WASHINGTON – Today the Environmental Working Group petitioned the Department of Agriculture to prohibit meat producers from claiming their beef is “low carbon” and to require independent verification of other climate claims on food.
EWG’s petition also urges the USDA to require food companies to disclose their carbon emissions on product labels, much the way calorie counts are included on food labels.
“There is no such thing as low-carbon beef,” said Scott Faber, EWG’s senior vice president for government affairs. “No food choice results in more greenhouse gas emissions than beef.”
Many consumers are confused about climate and carbon claims, like “net zero” and “carbon neutral,” on food products – often erroneously thinking these claims reflect actual reductions in greenhouse gas emissions that result from choosing these products.
But in fact most of these claims are based on “offsets” generated by farmland practices that are hard to measure and not independently verified.
“Consumers expect that carbon claims have been verified by an independent third party, but the USDA relies on the honor system,” Faber said.
EWG raised similar concerns in comments it submitted this week on the Federal Trade Commission’s Green Guides update. The guides aim to prevent companies from making misleading environmental claims about their products.
“Consumers are willing to pay for foods that reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” Faber said. “But many of the climate claims made on food are either misleading or false.”
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The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that empowers people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment. Through research, advocacy and unique education tools, EWG drives consumer choice and civic action.
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