Commenting on the new legislation, Stabenow said: “This bipartisan bill ensures that consumers and families throughout the USA will have access, for the first time ever, to information about their food through a mandatory, nationwide label for food products with GMOs”.
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“If passed by the House, the legislation would establish a federal framework for labeling and prevent a state-by-state patchwork of mandates that would only confuse consumers and increase food prices”.
Under the legislation, food manufacturers would be mandated to disclose genetically modified ingredients through one of three labeling options: on-package text, an on-package symbol, or an on-package digital code that directs users online for more information. Pat Roberts, R-Kansas, is insufficient.
The association was part of the Coalition for Safe and Affordable Food, which lobbied for what labeling supporters termed the Deny Americans the Right to Know, or DARK Act, that would have made labeling voluntary.
The House version of the bill would make it optional for companies to label products with GMO ingredients and would ban states from putting in place their own labeling laws. The food industry, though generally a proponent of GMOs, is more accepting of a uniform national standard as opposed to state-based regulations.
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders said the timing of the bill was not an accident.
“DFA strongly supports the Roberts-Stabenow food biotechnology labeling agreement”, says John Wilson, Senior Vice President and Chief Fluid Marketing Officer, Dairy Farmers of America. Ahead of the vote Wednesday, OCA activists disrupted the Senate session to dump ,000 on the chamber floor to protest the back-room dealings. “While also making sure consumers have the right to know what is in their food”, likewise giving a nod to those skeptical of GMOs.
While the legislation requires mandatory disclosures on food labels, there is some flexibility over the form they can take – a compromise the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) says it can support.
We are grateful that the staff and leadership of ABA have advocated so strongly for a legislative solution that is based on science and recognizes the very basic concepts of interstate commerce. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) said he would offer a series of amendments to strengthen the Senate bill, including grandfathering Vermont’s labeling law.
Scientific literature has found GMO foods cause no adverse health effects, yet there is still widespread public concern over these products.
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They reached “what we think is a pretty good outcome that respects [those who want to know] what is in their food and those who don’t want to see unnecessary alarm and confusion raised about the safety and sustainability about feed with genetically modified organisms“, he said. “In addition, it lacks any measures to hold companies accountable if they violate these labeling requirements”.
