Country of Origin Labeling (COOL)

Find FAQs and resources related to Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) labeling.

About Country of Origin Labeling (COOL)

Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) is a labeling law that requires retailers, such as full-line grocery stores, supermarkets, and club warehouse stores, notify their customers with information regarding the source of certain foods. Food products (covered commodities) contained in the original law include muscle cut and ground meats: beef, veal, pork, lamb, goat, and chicken; wild and farm-raised fish and shellfish; fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables; peanuts, pecans, and macadamia nuts; and ginseng. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is responsible for administration and enforcement of COOL.

On March 2, 2016, the Agriculture Marketing Service (AMS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture released a final rule to remove beef and pork from mandatory country of origin labeling requirements.

Meats and fish that still require COOL labeling include muscle cuts of lamb and ground lamb, muscle cuts of goat and ground goat, muscle cuts of chicken and ground chicken and wild and farm-raised fish and shellfish.