Joplin Independent: GMO labeling shouldn’t be voluntary

In recent years, foods with labels like “natural” and “no GMO” have popped up in stores and promoted themselves as a healthy alternative. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the World Health Organization and the American Medical Association have all said that GMOs are fine for consumption.

So it was a welcome surprise last week to read Zinke’s statement saying: “Montanans have a right to know what is in the food they are eating and preparing for their families, which is exactly why I voted for the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act”. “This study adds to the GM labeling evidence by showing that, in the only U.S. State that has passed a mandatory positive GM labeling law, the label will not act as a ‘warning label.’ When only the label is considered, it has no impact on consumer opposition”.

The political finance watchdog group found that the supporters of the anti-labeling bill which passed the House of Representatives last Thursday collectively received $29.9 million from the agribusiness lobby and food and beverage industry during the 2014 election cycle. “And there is some evidence that the label will increase consumer confidence in GM technology among certain groups”. But the White House has so far been silent on the House bill. Opponents of the bill, including environmental and food activists and liberal Democrats, argue that it would deny people the right to know what is in their food.

The House bill proposes that shoppers choose without information, unless manufacturers voluntarily choose to put GMOs on their labels. To require labeling of all GMOs, he said, would be to ignore this scientific consensus. Maine and Connecticut have also passed laws requiring the labelling, but those measures don’t take effect unless neighbouring states follow suit. The act would create a uniform GMO labeling throughout the United States, as opposed to having each state make its own laws regarding crops that cross state lines as product goes from the field to market. GMO seeds, for example, can be Roundup resistant, so farmers can use that herbicide to kill weeds without harming the corn crop. This gives the federal government more power to dictate which foods are worthy of labeling. But it also would set up a voluntary, national program at the U.S. Department of Agriculture for food producers who want to seek non-GMO certification. If GMO content matters to you, the only way to be sure your food is GMO free is to buy USDA certified organic groceries.