Representative Mike Pompeo (R-KS), the single largest recipient of campaign funds from Koch Industries in 2010, introduced a bill to Congress last week titled the “Safe and Accurate Labeling Act of 2014” (HR 4432) that is anything but. The bill would stop states from requiring labels on food produced from genetically engineered (GE) and genetically modified (GMO) products. It would also make voluntary labeling for GE foods the national standard, ensure that GMOs can be labeled as “natural”, and create its own rules for non-GMO labeling.
Food and Water Watch opposes this bill, as it is written exactly as Monsanto, the corporation that holds most patents to GMO foods, would want. Politico leaked the language back in January 2014 as the work of the Grocery Manufacturers Association. That organization represents agribusiness corporations such as Dow AgroSciences, Syngenta, and of course, Monsanto. Monsanto, GMA, and other big business have contributed over $67 million so far opposing GMO labeling bills in ballot referenda and legislation.
These corporations claims that labeling GMO foods will scare consumers away from the products. And the voluntary measure they propose does not work. FDA has let companies voluntarily label GE foods for 13 years. Not one corporation has done so.
This type of bill would trample the rights of consumers who want to know what’s in the food they feed their families. The Center for Food Safety, which calls the bill the “Deny Americans the Right-to-Know Act (DARK Act)” has set up a way to let your Congress member know that you oppose this bill.
Label GMO FOODS. NO “NATURAL” Indication for GMO FOODS.