Brazil’s ‘mystery meat’ is a bad deal for the U.S.

If American consumers knew where this 600 million lbs. of meat is coming from, they might not want to eat it.
Wade Geffert, son of Shawn and Kylee Geffert of Humboldt, shows his Grand Champion Market Steer at the Allen County Fair’s 2026 livestock premium auction. Columnist Eric Schlosser argues against President Donald Trump’s importation of 660 million lbs. of Brazilian beef, saying its meat is not held to U.S. standards. Better yet, Schlosser said, buy your meat locally so you know its origin. Photo by Tim Stauffer
by Eric Schlosser – Guest opinion for The New York Times
Published: September 8, 2026
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If American consumers knew where this 600 million lbs. of meat is coming from, they might not want to eat it.

If you buy a T-shirt at Gap, it will have a label that tells you where it was made. That’s federal law.

The same is true for automobiles, appliances, television sets, every fresh or frozen fruit and vegetable sold at the supermarket.

Beef and pork are notable exceptions to these laws. And that may help to explain why President Trump signed a proclamation last week that will allow the duty-free importation of about 660 million pounds of inexpensive beef.

Eric Schlosser – Guest opinion for The New York Times

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