U.S. Rep.Van Orden: Introduces bipartisan bill to help consumers know when they’re buying foreign foods

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representatives Derrick Van Orden (WI-03) Josh Harder (CA-09) introduced a bill to require clear labeling of canned goods so families know which country their food came from. Right now, many families have no idea they are buying cheap, imported canned foods. Imports of canned fruits and vegetables from China increased 43% between 2019 and 2022. The American Consumer Awareness of National Source (CANS) Act requires canned fruits and vegetables to be clearly labeled with the country they came from so families can make informed decisions at the grocery store and choose to buy USA-grown foods if they want to.

“America’s farmers work incredibly hard to produce high-quality food for the nation and deserve their efforts to be recognized. American consumers should also know if what they buy is domestically or internationally produced,” said Congressman Van Orden. “I am proud to introduce the American CANS Act with Rep. Harder to require a country-of-origin label on cans, which supports our domestic farmers and ensures transparency for consumers.”

“The 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,” said Congressman Harder. “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.”

“On behalf of the U.S. metal food can manufacturers, we applaud Rep. Josh Harder and Rep. Derrick Van Orden for introducing the American Consumer Awareness of National Source (American CANS) Act, which will provide clear and consistent labeling on the country in which each canned food product was picked and packed,” said Robert Budway, President of Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI). “Ensuring that imported canned foods are properly labeled will empower American consumers to easily distinguish between products made in America and those packaged in other countries. Preliminary survey data shows that country of origin is an important factor considered by U.S. purchasers of packaged foods. This bill thus will enable American consumers to make informed decisions about where their food comes from. Consumer choices based on full information about country of origin will in turn help support American farmers and food producers, which are critical to the U.S. economy.”

View the full bill text here.