House Passes Bill To Block State GMO Food Labeling Mandates

The GMO labeling debate continues. The U.S. House of Representatives passed The Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act (HR 1599) last week by a vote of 275 to 150, banning state GMO food labeling laws. The state laws would force food producers to put labels on products containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs), according to an article in the Star Tribune.

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Earlier this month, the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015 was passed by the Agriculture Committee. The bill to impose voluntary labeling standards on foods made with genetically engineered ingredients, blocking mandatory rules, will “set the stage for a showdown with implications for consumers and the biotechnology industry,” stated a recent article on TheHill.com.

The bill, introduced by Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-KS) in March, is said to create a federal standard for the voluntary labeling of foods that contain GMOs, and pre-empt states from enacting their own mandatory labeling laws.

American Seed Trade Association President and CEO Andrew W. LaVigne released the following statement last week on the House of Representatives passage of H.R. 1599:

“The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) is pleased to be among more than 400 organizations representing all parts of the food chain in applauding the swift consideration and passage of the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act by the House of Representatives.

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“We are glad to see the House of Representatives recognize that genetic engineering is an important tool for American agriculture. This legislation ensures a uniform approach to food labeling which will provide valuable information to American consumers without unnecessarily increasing grocery store prices. A potential patchwork of state food labeling regulations would be misleading and costly to comply with and enforce.

“ASTA members have actively engaged their representatives in the House and we encourage prompt Senate action.”

Supporters of labeling, however, say the ban takes away citizens and states’ rights.

According to the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association, “the bill flies in the face of public opinion by denying citizens the right to choose what they eat and feed their families and throws out all state efforts to label genetically engineered (GE) food, such as the laws already passed in Maine, Connecticut, and Vermont.

For additional information on the GMO labeling debate, click here.

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Avatar for keithp keithp says:

Just let them have food labeled as Non GMO, same as for ones labeled as Organic, or Gluten Free, etc.

Avatar for Beverly Isom Beverly Isom says:

I agree!

It is so hard for me to think that banning GMO Labeling is okay. As a past 18 yr. member of The Ohio Ecological Food & Farm Association (OEFFA) they have hit the nail right on the head. This should tell you how big business holds a chock hold on our Politian’s. No wonder this country is going to hell-in-a-hand basket. They worry about to much SUGAR, BUT NOT THE 200-300% INCREASE IN THE USE OF 2-4D & GLYPHOSATE & DICAMBA.. What a way to die. Thank you – Vince

Avatar for Beverly Isom Beverly Isom says:

We still don’t know what genetic engineering will do to our bodies down the road! We should have the choice of eating non-gmo if we don’t feel comfortable eating gmo foods!

Avatar for Vicky Vicky says:

I have a right to know what I eat!!!!!!

Avatar for keithsrv keithsrv says:

You might want to grow everything yourself then. I never saw that right in the constitution. Of course if you get sick you can sue. I’ve gotten sick from food a number of times and never sued anyone. At some point you have to have some level of trust people are not meaning to poison you. The only way around it is for you to grow all your own.

Avatar for Elmo Dean Elmo Dean says:

All who are not sure about the importance of this bill and the American Publics’ right to know, please do the following before deciding:
Let your favorite pet consume 6 oz. of diluted RoundUp. Time the emergence of frothing at the mouth and subsequent Death. 20-30 minutes max for my border Collie. That one experience will teache all lessons needed about the safety of Roundup. Round-Up ready indeed.

Then read the words of one of Virginias finest farmers and Politicians, Thomas Jefferson
“The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms
is, as a last resort to protect them against tyranny in govt.”
The chokehold that Monsanto, Syngenta, ADM, has on our politicians amounts to Tyranny over the American people. Most of those with no axe to grind will usually agree.

Avatar for keithp keithp says:

This fact sheet of research likely doesn’t support the toxicity you seem to claim. It even comments the surfactant used may be more toxic than the glyphosate. http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/glyphotech.pdf

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