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A federal judge has refused to block new rules that require the meat industry to include specific information about the origin of their products on labels. Industry groups say they’ll continue fighting. The new rules took effect in May and require labels for steaks, ribs and other cuts of meat include clear information about where the animals were born, raised and slaughtered. … The lawsuit argues that the rule violates the U.S. Constitution because it forces meat producers to provide information about their products, and the groups argue that officials overstepped their authority with the rules. … The labeling rules...

The next time you shop at the grocery store, you may see something new– nutrition labels on meat. The same types of labels you already find on other foods. In 1993, the U.S. Department of Agriculture made nutrition labeling voluntary for many types of raw meats. The labeling becomes mandatory on Thursday. The new rule affects all ground meat and poultry and 40 of the most popular cuts of meat in the United States such as chicken breasts, steaks, pork chops, roasts, lamb and veal. If the nutrition facts are not on the package, as in the case of some...

JACK SULLIVAN Associated Press WASHINGTON - Government cost estimates of a new program that will require meat packages to be labeled with their countries of origin are "questionable and not well supported," congressional auditors said in a report released Wednesday. The General Accounting Office report undermines an argument against the labeling requirements, which are set to take effect in September 2004. Sens. Tom Daschle and Tim Johnson, both D-S.D., and Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., said the GAO report is ammunition against House legislation that would cut off funds to the labeling program before it starts. The Department of Agriculture estimated the...