New House Bill Would Require Clear Country-of-Origin Labeling on Canned Foods
Reps. Josh Harder, D-Calif., and Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., introduced a bill Aug. 13 that would require canned foods to be clearly labeled with the country of origin.
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The lawmakers said their proposed American Consumer Awareness of National Source (American CANS) Act would help consumers decide whether to buy U.S.-grown produce or imported food from countries such as China. They said imports of canned fruits and vegetables from China increased 43% from 2019 to 2022 and that many consumers are unaware they are buying imported products. The surge in low-cost imports is hurting American farmers, the lawmakers asserted.
California’s “Central Valley is the fruit and nut basket of the world, but our grocery store shelves are filled with peaches, tomatoes, and other canned goods grown 7,000 miles away,” Harder said. “I want my daughters to eat local, healthy produce but right now you need a microscope to figure out where it was grown. That makes no sense. This bill will ensure we know exactly what we’re eating and where it’s from.”
Pacific Coast Producers, a California-based cooperative association of over 150 family farmers, and the Can Manufacturers Institute, which represents U.S. can manufacturers, both endorsed the legislation. The bill was referred to the House Ways and Means Committee.