Brazilian Imports and Country-of-Origin Labeling

Last week, I found myself driving to a meet-and-greet party for Montana Senator Steve Daines.

If this surprises you, know it surprised me, too.

I don’t like mixers and I’m too frugal to throw money at politicians often.

I almost turned around.

But I had something to say and I needed Senator Daines to hear it.

In fact, I had a laundry list of concerns, gripes and general malaise.

A small group of us chatted near the bar when the Senator walked in.

Like every good politician, he looked each of us in the eye and shook hands with a grip not too tight, but not soggy.

He brought up grizzly bears, then said he needed to mingle with others.

This was my last chance. My laundry list had to wait.

I said “We really need your help with Brazil.”

Others echoed my statement.

Daines said he sent a letter to USDA secretary Sonny Perdue that very day.

“I don’t know how they opened that border so quickly,” he said.

“I do,” I replied. “Collusion and corruption. The inspectors are being paid off.”

Daines looked at me like I was a whacko conspiracy theorist.

Others in the group supported my conclusion.

After all, just two years ago, Brazilian fresh beef imports were halted because the inspectors were paid to allow rotten, tainted beef into the U.S. and cover it up with cancer-causing chemicals.

This was after less than a year of allowing fresh Brazilian beef to come into the U.S. in the first place.

Daines listened as we explained that only four packers provide more than 80% of the beef in the U.S. And because of current labeling laws, consumers won’t know that the disgusting beef they buy is probably imported so American beef producers will be blamed.

But why allow imports now? What changed?

A little research points to the motivation behind opening the Brazilian fresh beef market now.

It all revolves around the concentrated U.S. packing industry where the same packers have economic ties to Brazil and a strong profit motive, no country of origin labeling in the U.S., and global disease outbreaks.

Brazil has had enough rain to support a growing supply of cattle so domestic beef prices have dropped.

The Brazilian currency is low right now while the U.S. dollar is strong so international companies can make money on both the product and the exchange rate.

Brazil expected to export much more beef to China this year because African Swine Fever has decimated China’s domestic pork industry, but lo and behold, coronavirus has shut down trade and transportation to China.

Fresh beef doesn’t last long and money talks.

Especially in an election year.

Politicians have sacrificed American cattle producers at the alter of concentrated corporate profits.

Again.

Fifteen senators from both sides of the aisle signed the letter to Perdue. They asked for routine inspections of 100% of the Brazilian facilities – currently only eight of the 28 facilities are randomly inspected.

The senators are restricted to insisting that current laws and rules be enforced.

Cattle producers and consumers have the power to insist on safe food.

Producers and consumers should demand Country of Origin Labeling.

Packers cry out that the logistics of tracking beef is nearly impossible and very expensive.

If they don’t have the motivation to protect consumers by overcoming logistics issues, they should hire any university alumni association.

Those people can track alumni through a myriad of location changes, name changes and life events.

Somehow, some way, they generate enough income so the university understands tracking is profitable.

Producers have the right to protect their hard-earned reputation for high-quality, safe beef.

Consumers have the right to know exactly what they buy.

We all have the right to safe food.