USA Beef steak

What does the USDA stamp mean? Hint, it’s not Made in America.

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Do you know where your beef is from? Chances are you don’t.

Just because your beef is stamped ​”​USDA​”​ does not mean that it came from cattle in the USA. ​ ​

Beef sold in the United States is sourced from over 20 different countries and comes here to be packaged and stamped “USDA.” The majority of cattle come from Canada or Mexico, but ​even those countries ​have vastly different laws than the US on caring for that cattle.

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Buy American Made: The Many Astounding Ways You Can Express Your Values with Your Pocket Book
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Buy American Made: Ways to Express Your Values With Your Pocket Book

In today’s global market, where products are manufactured has become a significant consideration for consumers. Many individuals seek to align their purchasing choices with their personal values, particularly by buying American-made products.

This article explores the importance of buying American-made goods and provides strategies for identifying truly American products in a market that can sometimes be misleading.

By making informed decisions and supporting local businesses, consumers have the potential to positively impact both the economy and society as a whole.

Key Takeaways

  • Purchasing American-made products allows individuals to align their spending with their values.
  • Buying American-made products can support local communities and small businesses.
  • Labels such as USDA Organic and Made in USA Certified help consumers make environmentally conscious choices.
  • Identifying truly American products can be challenging, so buyers should do their own research and remain cautious.

The Power of Purchasing: How Buying American-Made Products Reflects Your Values

Purchasing American-made products allows consumers to align their values with their spending choices, reflecting their commitment to supporting local businesses and ethical manufacturing practices. When consumers choose to buy American-made products, they are not only supporting the local economy, but also promoting fair labor practices and sustainable sourcing of materials.

Ethically sourced materials play a significant role in the production of American-made products, ensuring that the supply chain is transparent and free from exploitation.

Additionally, consumer education plays a crucial role in promoting the purchase of American-made products. By educating consumers about the benefits of buying American-made, they can make informed decisions and actively contribute to a more sustainable and ethical economy.

Ultimately, purchasing American-made products empowers consumers to make a positive impact by supporting local businesses and promoting ethical manufacturing practices.

Supporting Local Agriculture: Ethical Food Choices That Align With Your Pocket Book

Supporting local agriculture and making ethical food choices allows consumers to contribute to their community and promote sustainable farming practices. By purchasing locally grown or raised products, consumers support local farmers and reduce the distance between producers and consumers. This not only helps to strengthen the local economy but also allows consumers to have a direct impact on the quality and safety of their food.

Additionally, choosing food labels such as USDA Organic, free range, hormone-free, and grass-fed helps consumers make environmentally conscious choices. These labels indicate that the food has been produced using sustainable farming methods and supports the well-being of animals.

Finding Authentic American-Made Products: Tips and Resources to Guide Your Purchasing Decisions

One way to ensure the authenticity of American-made products is by checking for specific labels or certifications that indicate their origin. These labels serve as reliable resources for consumers who want to make informed purchasing decisions.

The ‘Made in the USA’ label, regulated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), is an important indicator of a product’s origin. However, it is essential for buyers to remain cautious and do their own research, as some companies may misuse this label. The FTC also receives complaints about mislabeled products, but investigations and penalties are limited.

To find authentic American-made products, consumers can rely on resources such as the National Center for Employee Ownership, which provides a list of companies owned by their employees. Additionally, regional and national firms are the main source of American-made products, and their status can be easily checked.

Assessing the American Content: Understanding the Criteria for Identifying Truly American Products

The American Automobile Labeling Act (AALA) requires automobiles and trucks to display the percentage of domestically produced content. This act aims to provide consumers with information about the origin of the components used in their vehicles.

To further assess the American content of vehicles, the Kogod Made in America Auto Index incorporates the AALA and adds additional criteria. This index allows consumers to compare the American content of different vehicles and make informed purchasing decisions.

However, outside of automobiles, textiles, and furs, there is no specific identification of product origin or components required. This poses challenges in identifying truly American products, as companies can claim a product is ‘Made in the USA’ as long as it has negligible foreign content and final assembly or processing in the U.S.

Buyers should therefore remain cautious and do their own research when relying on the ‘Made in the USA’ label.

Overall, the AALA and the Kogod American Content Index provide valuable tools for assessing the American content of products and making informed purchasing decisions.

Navigating Challenges: Ensuring Your Purchases Reflect Your Values Amidst Misleading Claims

Amidst misleading claims, it is crucial to carefully navigate the challenges of ensuring that your purchases truly align with your values.

While the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulates the ‘Made in the USA’ label, investigations and penalties are limited. The FTC often receives complaints from manufacturing competitors, but settlements with no civil penalties are common.

However, California has stricter regulations and higher penalties for misusing the ‘Made in the USA’ label. Buyers should remain cautious and do their own research when relying on the label.

It is important to be aware of FTC regulations and the potential penalties in California to avoid falling victim to misleading claims. By understanding these regulations and penalties, consumers can make informed decisions and ensure that their purchases reflect their values.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Can Buying American-Made Products Reflect Your Values?

Buying American-made products allows individuals to support their local economy and preserve American jobs. By making conscious purchasing choices, consumers align their values with their pocketbooks, contributing to the well-being of their community and the nation.

What Are Some Resources to Help You Find Authentic American-Made Products?

Online directories and local craft fairs are valuable resources for finding authentic American-made products. These platforms provide access to a wide range of products, allowing consumers to support local businesses and make informed purchasing decisions.

What Criteria Are Used to Assess the American Content of Vehicles?

Assessment criteria are used to evaluate the American content of vehicles, including the American Automobile Labeling Act and the Kogod Made in America Auto Index. Manufacturing regulations require companies to accurately label products as "Made in the USA."

How Does the Federal Trade Commission Regulate the "Made in the Usa" Label?

The Federal Trade Commission regulates the ‘Made in the USA’ label, ensuring that companies claiming this designation meet certain criteria, such as negligible foreign content and final assembly or processing in the U.S. However, investigations and penalties are limited, and buyers should exercise caution when relying on this label.

What Challenges Do Consumers Face in Identifying Truly American Products?

Identifying American products can pose challenges for consumers. The Federal Trade Commission regulates the "Made in the USA" label, but investigations and penalties are limited. Consumers should remain cautious and do their own research to ensure product origin.

62K lbs of raw meat recalled days before Memorial Day

62K lbs of Raw Meat Recalled Days Before Memorial Day Weekend

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Tyson Foods Voluntarily Recalls Chicken Nuggets

Tyson Foods Voluntarily Recalls Chicken Nuggets

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Tyson Foods, Inc. announced a voluntary recall of 5-pound bags of Tyson® Fully Cooked Panko Chicken Nuggets that were sold at Costco locations nationwide and a small number of 20-pound cases of bulk Spare Time brand cooked nugget-shaped chicken breast pattie fritters with rib meat that were sold to a single wholesaler in Pennsylvania.

A small number of consumers contacted the company to say they had found small pieces of hard, white plastic in the nuggets, prompting the company to issue the recall. Though the plastic pieces have been found in a very small number of packages, out of an abundance of caution, the company is recalling 132,520 pounds of product. No injuries have been reported with this recall. Products sold in smaller packages or at any other retailer are not affected by this recall.

Tyson Foods Voluntarily Recalls Chicken NuggetsFor 5-pound bags of Tyson® Fully Cooked Panko Chicken Nuggets purchased at Costco since July 2016, the recall includes:

UPC: 0-237000-3558-5
Item # 23575-928
Lots feature “best if used by” dates of July 18, 2017 with case codes 2006SDL03 or 2006SDL33

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “P-13556” printed adjacent to the “Best If Used By” date on the back of the package. The cases of bulk Spare Time patties (Item# 23575-861) have the same “use by” dates listed above.

If you have purchased any of the affected items, you should discard the product, cut the UPC and date code from the back of the packaging and mail it to the following address for a full refund:

Tyson Foods – CP631
P.O. Box 2020
Springdale, AR 72765-9989

Tyson Foods has inspected all lines at the production facility to ensure product quality standards are being met and has implemented corrective measures at all of its facilities to prevent similar occurrences.

Consumers with questions may call Tyson Consumer Relations at 866-328-3156 or e-mail comments@tyson.com.

SOURCE: TYSON FOODS

10 Common Foods Made in China

A List of 10 Commonly Used Foods Made in China

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The label Made In China is so ubiquitous in the U.S. that we expect to see it on most goods in our homes. However, one place you may not expect to see it is on foods you eat every day. Here are ten commonly used foods that are made in China – but they don’t have to be.

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An Alternative to the Nabisco Oreo Cookie including a Homemade Recipe

An Alternative to the Nabisco Oreo Cookie including a Homemade Recipe

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Last year, the Nabisco company decided not to make a $130 million upgrade to the Chicago facilities in which America’s iconic cookie, the Oreo, is made. The final Chicago-made Oreo cookies rolled off the line last week on Friday. This work will be transferred to four state-of-the-art production lines in Salinas, Mexico. This move has generated some buzz within the MAM community, and consumers are looking for an alternative. Read more

Chicago Nabisco Workers Continue Fight to Preserve Local Jobs

Nabisco Workers Continue Fight to Preserve Local Jobs

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A beige apartment building at 73rd and Kedzie is ground zero of the Nabisco workers fight to keep their jobs. Read more

King Arthur Wants To Tell You Where Its Flour Comes From

King Arthur Wants To Tell You Where Its Flour Comes From

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More and more, people want their food providers to be transparent. They want to know exactly where the ingredient they’re eating and cooking with are coming from. Which is why King Arthur Flour recently launched Identity-Preserved White Whole Wheat Flour. Read more

Asian Honey, Banned in Europe, Is Flooding U.S. Grocery Shelves

Asian Honey, Banned in Europe, Is Flooding U.S. Grocery Shelves

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A third or more of all the honey consumed in the U.S. is likely to have been smuggled in from China and may be tainted with illegal antibiotics and heavy metals. A Food Safety News investigation has documented that millions of pounds banned as unsafe in dozens of countries are being imported and sold here in record quantities. Read more

4 Ways The TPP Will Affect Your Dinner Plate

TPP – 4 Ways it Will Affect Your Dinner Plate

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TPP – Food safety has been a major issue in the United States for years. Not because the food we produce is bad, but because much of the food that is imported from countries like China and Vietnam is severely hurting people in the United States. Our food safety regulations are strict to ensure healthy foods, however poor countries have much lower food safety standards than we do. Read more

Perdue to Buy Niman Ranch, Chipotle Pork Supplier & Natural Meat Maker

Perdue to Buy Natural Meat Maker & Chipotle Pork Supplier Niman Ranch

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Perdue and LNK Partners announced today that Natural Food Holdings, including the well-known Niman Ranch® brand, is being purchased by Perdue. Read more

The Not So COOL Reason You May Soon Not Know Where Your Steak Came From

The Not So COOL Reason You Won’t Know Where Your Steak Came From

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Cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy—mad cow disease—have been reported in Brazil as recently as 2014. When a cow was found to have died from the neurogenerative disease, which humans can contract by eating meat from sick animals, in 2012, a number of countries suspended beef imports from Brazil as a precaution. The United States was not among them. Read more

Costco faces lawsuit over sale of prawns allegedly farmed by slave labor

Costco Faces Lawsuit Over Sale of Prawns Allegedly Farmed By Slave Labor

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Costco Wholesale Corp. customer sued the retailer on allegations that it knowingly sold frozen prawns that were the product of slave labor. Read more

Slave Labor Producing Prawns for Supermarkets in USA

Slave Labor Producing Prawns for Supermarkets in USA

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Slave labor forced to work for no pay for years at a time under threat of extreme violence are being used in Asia in the production of seafood sold by major US, British and other European retailers, the Guardian can reveal. Read more

As Nabisco Ships 600 Jobs Out of Chicago to Mexico, Maybe It’s Time To Give Up Oreos

Nabisco Ships 600 Jobs to Mexico. Time To Give Up Oreos

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I may have to give up one of my longest-standing indulgences: the dunking of an Oreo cookie in cold milk (whole is preferred). I don’t do this lightly, as I have been dunking those deliciously wicked rounds of chocolate and what I choose to believe is cream since I’ve been three. Read more

Nabisco to cut Chicago jobs, send some work to Mexico

Nabisco to Cut Chicago jobs, Send Some Work to Mexico

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Mondelez International (Nabisco) will lay off half its 1,200 employees in its bakery on Chicago’s Southwest Side after deciding to invest significantly in a Mexico plant rather than its long-standing facility here. Read more

1.7 million lbs of Frozen Chicken May Be Contaminated with Salmonella

1.7 million lbs of Frozen Chicken May Be Contaminated with Salmonella

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Barber Foods is recalling 1,707,494 pounds of raw frozen chicken products after the U.S. Department of Agriculture received reports of a cluster of people in Minnesota and Wisconsin becoming ill with salmonella poisoning. Read more

Beef Imports from FMD-Infected Brazil & Argentina Approved, Country of Origin Labeling, COOL FTC, Made in USA Beef, Product of USA Beef

Beef Imports from FMD Infected Brazil & Argentina Approved

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USDA Approval of Brazilian Beef Imports Coming Soon??

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Beverage Company Earns Product of USA CERTIFIED Seal on Apple Cider

Beverage Company Earns Product of USA CERTIFIED Seal on Apple Cider

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Beverage Company Earns “Product of USA CERTIFIED” Seal on Apple CiderCERTIFIED, Inc. (madeinusa.net), the nation’s leading independent, non-governmental organization (NGO) certification company for Country of Origin claims, reported today that ZEIGLER’S has earned a Product of USA CERTIFIEDTM Seal for its natural Apple Cider, the first such cider to qualify after a detailed supply chain audit that documents all components and processes. Such certification will reinforce to consumers the quality of ZEIGLER’S Apple Cider. Read more

China Arrests Smugglers Selling Frozen Meat From The '70s

China Arrests Smugglers Trying To Sell Frozen Meat From The 1970s

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In the latest food scandal to hit China, authorities have seized almost half a billion dollars worth of smuggled frozen meat, some of more than 40 years old. According to the state-run China Daily, customs officials have confiscated over 100,000 tonnes (110, 231 tons) of chicken wings, beef, and pork, and arrested gangs across 14 Chinese provinces attempting to sell the contraband. Read more

China's Latest Food Scandal: Frozen Meat From The 1970s

China’s Latest Stomach-Churning Food Scandal: Frozen Meat From The 1970s

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Some 800 tonnes of smuggled frozen meat have been seized by Chinese authorities, including one batch dating from the 1970s, state media reported.

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China's Tainted Meat Scandal Explained

China’s Tainted Meat Scandal Explained

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July 30, 2014

McDonald’s restaurants in many Chinese cities have been eerily quiet this past week. Many McDonald’s addicts have been forced to go cold turkey as numerous branches have yanked flagship burgers off the menu amid a tainted meat scandal.

The fast food giant is enormously popular in China where it has 2,000 outlets, each one typically overflowing with hungry crowds. Read more

Shrimp at Walmart and Costco

Why Walmart and Costco Shrimp Prices Are So Low

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Some of the most popular American corporations are importing shrimp at super-cheap prices from Thailand, where migrant workers are in slavery, like in Nazi Germany, being tortured while they work for no pay 20 hours a day. How much shrimp is being imported that’s processed by slaves, including child slaves? Walmart and Costco are contributing to the chaos, buying and selling shrimp exported from Thailand every year, and it’s slave-labor shrimp at “rock bottom” cost. No wonder Walmart and Costco are such “successful” businesses. What else are they buying that’s made by slaves who are tortured mentally and physically while working 20-hour days for zero pay? Wine, maybe?

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House Votes to Repeal Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) for Meat

House Votes to Repeal Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) for Meat

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The House of Representatives has voted to repeal country-of-origin labeling (COOL) for beef, pork, and chicken. Read more

Bloomberg Tyson Chicken antibiotics

The Biggest Chicken Seller in the U.S. Is Eliminating Antibiotics

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Tyson Foods will no longer use human antibiotics in chickens. The Arkansas-based company, the nation’s largest seller of chicken, is announcing today that it plans to eliminate the use of medically important antibiotics in its flocks by September 2017. Read more

Chicken From China Labeled “Made In America”

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Yet again another food scandal is among us as the U.S. Department of Agriculture recently agreed to allow four chicken processing plants in China to raise and slaughter their chickens in the U.S., export them to China for processing, and them ship them back to the U.S. These chickens will then be sold on every grocery store shelf in the United States with no country of origin labeling. What’s worse is that U.S. inspectors will not be on site at the processing plants in China before the processed chicken will be shipped to the U.S.  Again, chicken from China labeled “Made In America”?

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Smithfield Agrees To Takeover By China's Shuanghui

Smithfield Agrees To Takeover By China’s Shuanghui

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WASHINGTON (AFP) – Shuanghui International won the largest ever Chinese takeover of a US company Tuesday when shareholders of pork giant Smithfield Foods approved its $7.1 billion offer. The deal locks in for Shuanghui and the giant Chinese market a strong supply from the world’s largest pig raiser and pork processor.

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Strong Support for Labeling Modified Foods

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Reposted from The New York Times:

Americans overwhelmingly support labeling foods that have been genetically modified or engineered, according to a New York Times poll conducted this year, with 93 percent of respondents saying that foods containing such ingredients should be identified.

Three-quarters of Americans expressed concern about genetically modified organisms in their food, with most of them worried about the effects on people’s health.

Thirty-seven percent of those worried about G.M.O.’s said they feared that such foods cause cancer or allergies, although scientific studies continue to show that there is no added risk.

Among those with concerns, 26 percent said these foods are not safe to eat, or are toxic, while 13 percent were worried about environmental problems that they fear might be caused by genetic engineering.

Nearly half of Americans said they were aware that a large amount of the processed or packaged foods they now buy at the grocery store contains genetically modified ingredients. And although just a handful of G.M.O. crops are on the market, about 4 in 10 respondents said they thought that most or a lot of their fruits and vegetables were genetically modified.

Overall concern was higher among women than men, perhaps not surprisingly, as more women identify themselves as the principal grocery shopper in the household.

Americans were almost equally divided about eating genetically modified vegetables, fruits and grains, with about half saying they would not eat them.

They were even less comfortable about eating meat from genetically engineered animals: three-quarters said they would not eat G.M.O. fish, and about two-thirds said they would not eat meat that had been modified.

The national telephone poll was conducted from Jan. 24 to 27 with 1,052 adults and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus three percentage points.