Over 60 countries (including the European Union and China) require labeling on products containing Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). To date, more than 70 bills have been introduced in over 30 states to require GMO labeling or prohibiting genetically engineered foods. See the Center For Food Safety’s fact sheet on GMO labeling.
A number of states have conducted referendums to let citizens decide whether or not to require GMO labeling. This past Election Day, GMO labeling in Oregon was narrowly defeated by only 812 votes in a campaign where GMO food manufacturers spent over $20 million to defeat the measure. Vermont voters passed a requirement for GMO labeling and GMO food manufacturers have filed a lawsuit to prevent Vermont’s implementation of GMO labeling in 2016.
Opponents of GMO Labeling no longer want citizens in states to decide this issue for themselves. They have now introduced H.R. 4432 — the so-named “The Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2014”. If passed by Congress and signed by the President, H.R. 4432 would take away the rights of states to address GMO labeling and leave the authority solely up to the Food & Drug Administration (FDA). Up to now the FDA’s position is that GMO Labeling should be done only on a voluntary basis.
We think it’s wrong to take away the right of states to decide whether or not to label GMO production. Ellwood Thompson’s has written our Congressman (David Brat) to request a meeting to express our opposition to H.R. 4432. If you agree with us, please contact your Member of Congress to express your opposition to H.R. 4432. You can find out who your represents you in Congress along (along with their contact information) at http://whoismyrepresentative.com/. Please join us in this important cause. Click here to see a letter we wrote to our Congressman.
Finally, Ned Potter, a former science correspondent for ABC and CBS News recently wrote persuasive commentary for Forbes magazine as to why, in his opinion, GMO food manufacturers, who are spending millions of dollars to defeat state GMO Labeling referendums, are ultimately losing the bigger picture. He argues that it is in GMO food manufacturers’ interests to give up on the fight against GMO Labeling. See his insightful commentary here.
Kirk Schroder / Food Advocate / foodadvocate@ellwoodthompsons.com