Having been approved by the House, the amendment is now headed for President Obama’s desk to be signed into federal law.
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“There’s a segment of the population that enjoys reading food labels”, said Michael Swanson, chief agricultural economist at Wells Fargo. Members of the House voted 306-117 to approve the GMO bill. “It is the right solution to increase disclosure of information that consumers are seeking without stigmatizing a safe technology that feeds a hungry and growing world”.
Neither side in the labeling battle sounded completely satisfied.
Before today’s House approval, the Just Label It organization posted: “The GMO labeling legislation passed by the Senate and under consideration by the House this week falls short of what consumers rightly expect – a simple at-a-glance GMO disclosure on the package”.
“We’re not supporting the final bill, because it does allow companies to use the option of a QR code”, said Scott Faber, vice president for Environmental Working Group, a company that supports mandatory labels. It went into effect this month.
MacDonald says, “The FDA has the authority for labeling”.
Wilkins also says mandatory labeling of GMOs suggests that those foods are inferior or unsafe, which is simply not true. “The science already tells us they are safe to eat, and they are already helping us grow more food while protecting the environment and reducing our dependence on natural resources”.
A bill to create a federal labeling standard for foods with genetically modified ingredients and block states from issuing their own laws sailed through the House on Thursday.
The measure now goes to the House of Representatives, where it is expected to pass. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), the ranking Democrat on the committee, who fought for a stronger rule.
General Mills’ products, including Trix, are now on store shelves with GMO labels. “So, they have to work in some partnership for products that contain both meat and non-meat”. Instead, they can make that information available through a QR code.
“Pro-GMO labeling efforts now need to focus on effective implementation that delivers what all consumers want and deserve”, Hirshberg continued.
In other words, a national labeling standard might be a blessing for companies anxious that existing state labels make their products look unsafe to customers. Last week, the Senate passed a bill mandating the labeling of foods that contain GMOs.
At the same time, the GMO labeling battle isn’t over. He also noted that products that don’t include DNA, like sugar or olive oil, might not require labeling.
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NPR explained the biggest problem that critics have with the legislation that has now made it through Congress.
