Aldi Made A Change To Its Beef, And People Are Getting The Creeps

Do you know where your food comes from? If not, it might be worth knowing why. Food labelling can be a contentious topic, and in the last few decades, requirements have changed significantly, particularly around a food’s country of origin (or COO). Interestingly, though, some super common food items – like beef – don’t need to display their COO, and instead can elect to do so voluntarily. 

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They can also elect to remove it. That’s what’s happened at Aldi recently, and it’s prompted a lot of debate. Let’s discuss.

Aldi Beef’s Country Of Origin: Where Has It Gone?

In the last month or so, customers have started noticing that Aldi has removed its beef’s country (or countries) of origin from some of its packaging. Previously, its beef labels have stated that the product comes from Australia, Uruguay, Argentina, and the United States – but now, customers have noted that packages (well, some of them, at least) are notably missing that information, with a blank space where these countries used to be. 

This has caused a fair bit of stir in the Aldi community, and a recent Reddit thread seemed to link the lack of country of origin with a decline in quality in the store’s steaks. The original poster included a couple of pictures in their thread, and customers were quick to note the apparent sponginess of the meat. 

Importantly, though, we should stress that the removal of meat’s country of origin doesn’t mean that a retailer is suddenly trading in mystery meat. Like any major supermarket, Aldi’s sourcing is rigorous, and its supply chains are well-established – and additionally, its decision to import meat from Argentina and Australia comes at a time when US beef prices have been extraordinarily high. Other supermarkets also import meat from different countries, too. This hasn’t stopped people from discussing its decision to remove this information, though. 

The Requirements

In the US, retailers are required by law to let you know the provenance of many different types of food. Meats like lamb, goat, and chicken, as well as fish and shellfish, fruits and vegetables, and certain types of nuts need to have COO labels, so that customers can clearly identify where they come from, according to the USDA. Beef and pork, though, are different. In December 2015, Congress stated that muscle cuts and ground versions of both meats no longer have to display their countries of origin. Aldi and other supermarkets, therefore, have done so for the last decade on a voluntary basis.