The so-called “Dark Act” was up for action.
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“We have a right to know what we put in our bodies”, said Tamara Holley, 53, of Chicago, as she left a Whole Foods Market. But as McDonald’s learned a year ago, consumer sentiment is moving toward “natural” foods, even when those foods are high in sugar or fat.
Vermont took on Washington, and won.
General Mills’ announcement also follows last week’s news that the US Senate rejected Kansas Senator Pat Robert’s “Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act (SAFE)”.
Some M&M candies’ packaging includes the words, “Partially produced with genetic engineering”. Supporters of the bill believed that individual state laws would create an uneven network of laws and an undue burden for companies seeking to meet those regulatory requirements. In the interim, the question is, which company will be next to provide clear GMO labeling right on its packages, where shoppers want to see it?
“At the same time, they are facing increased challenges to production, including limited land and water resources, uncertain weather patterns, and pest and disease issues”.
Vermont is set to be the first state with mandated GMO labeling, which will go into effect on July 1.
Or companies could pull out of the state-there are only 626,000 people in Vermont.
The second-smallest USA state is forcing a big change in the food industry.
Another assumption is that product reformulation would occur because consumers would be scared by the GE label.
“Disappointed that a national solution has still not been reached”, executive vice president Jeff Harmening announced on March 18 that General Mills, too, would disclose GMO ingredients nationwide. The bill will most likely be introduced into Congress again.
One indicator could be how other food giants have dealt with GMO labeling battles during state ballot initiatives.
In 2012, California held a referendum vote on the issue of labeling, which lost by a slim, 3 percent margin.
In light of the labeling announcement, “Mars supports efforts to find a single, national GMO labeling definition”, company spokesman Jonathan Mudd wrote in an email to TakePart.
But a growing wariness among consumers – and increasing concern among scientists over a herbicide commonly sprayed on the crops – has led to a national fight over whether foods containing such ingredients should say so on the label.
Who made those contributions opposing labeling?
Trade groups representing agribusinesses and food companies including Monsanto Co. and Kraft Foods supported the proposal.
As we get closer to the July 1 date for labeling, prepare to hear more outrageous claims backed up by studies paid for by the very entities who don’t want to label.
ConAgra and other food companies such as Campbell Soup Co, General Mills Inc and Kellogg Co have made a decision to use such labels nationwide, finding it to be the easiest way to comply with a Vermont law.
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Leaders of the U.S. Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee said they are committed to finding a compromise.
