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Abstract
Proponents of the U.S. mandatory country-of-origin labeling (MCOOL) law have argued
that consumers prefer domestic meat and value labels confirming domestic origin. Following
legislation enacted in March 2009, an ex post analysis of demand is possible to evaluate relative
costs and benefits of MCOOL. This study uses retail grocery-store scanner data to estimate
a Rotterdam demand model of meat products. The model results failed to detect changes in
consumer meat demand post-MCOOL. Given the costs of compliance incurred by meat processors
and no evidence of increased demand, our results suggest that producers and consumers have
experienced a welfare loss.