As of my birthday last year (some day in September, now do your research), the FDA passed a regulation requiring all purveyors of meat products to display, clearly, the country of origin for their meat products.  Great, love it, we all enjoy a little accountability every now and again.  But I shudder at the roll out of this program, I groan at the loopholes, and I toss and turn at night thinking of the implications.  As of Monday, those regulations went into effect, and now we enjoy the aftermath....

Something like this took place a couple of years ago in my industry when the FDA required us to track the origin of every single ingredient's origin, albeit we didn't have to display the records.  This standard was naturally inspired by Chinese produce spoiling just about everything with which they came into contact.  Sure enough, the only time we tried to use a Chinese fruit, the results were disasterously gross.  So here, I get it.

Now, however, grocers need to display in store the origin of their meat products.  Great, wonderful, disclosure's always a splendid thing.  But consider the exemptions: Restaurants and Butcher Shops.

I avoid vulgarity as a principle, but forgive me if I ask, "What the F#CK?"

I understand the intent- accountability and traceability.  If something goes wrong, it'll be easy for consumers to know what they have to toss out, because it'll be right there on the label.  But why forgo such accountability in restaurants and butcher shops?  I ask again, WTF?  In theory, the butcher and ched will make sure their wares aren't tainted, but while we're at holding people accountable, why don't we, you know, ACTUALLY HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE?

Does not compute.  I ask you if you can think of a really good arguement for this oversight.  I've thought of a couple- the cost, the burden of signage, the constant changing of menus, but I'm unimpressed.  If grocers have to di it, why not the others?  I'm going to track this as the weeks go on and look for signs in my local purveyors.  Implications are potentially heart-warming.  Execution?  Potentially heart BURNING....

Peeled Skinny