A bipartisan coalition of 11 state Attorneys General have filed legal paperwork (amicus brief) that supports U.S. cattle ranchers against manufacturers who are selling foreign-sourced beef products under a “Product of USA” label.
South Dakota ranchers filed the lawsuit and a District Court ruled in their favor. The case is on appeal to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.
In their brief, the coalition of Attorneys General point out that USDA now acknowledges that use of the label for foreign-sourced beef products conflicts with federal requirements and have asked the court to order the manufacturers to stop falsely labeling their beef as a “Product of USA.”
Attorney General Marty Jackley says selling lower-quality foreign beef with a ‘Product of USA’ label misleads consumers and harms the reputation and financial interests of American ranchers. He says consumers should not be fooled into paying a premium price for a substandard foreign beef product under a false ‘Product of USA’ label.
Along with South Dakota, other states supporting the legal filing are Colorado, Kansas, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas and Wyoming.
South Dakota’s brief can be found here: https://atg.sd.gov/docs/PSS%20%20Taylor%20Baker.JBS%20Foods%2025.1986.pdf.
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