Center for Food Safety has called on the FDA to not let GMO foods carry the "natural" label. The Grocery Manufacturer's Association has announced it would submit a petition to the government to define the term "natural" to include foods produced using genetic engineering. CFS is asking that the FDA exclude genetic engineering from any definition of "natural" and to not make any decisions without public input. Colin O'Neil, director of government affairs to Center for Food Safety said in a statement, "there is nothing natural about genetic engineering, which is exactly why the Grocery Manufacturers Association wants FDA to create a special exemption for it. Natural is a great marketing tool and the industry doesn't want to be restricted in using it." Genetic engineering is not a … [Read more...]
Problems with AquaBounty GE Salmon Facility in Panama
Food & Water Watch is reporting on problems with AquaBounty's experimental production facility of genetically engineered (GE) salmon in Panama. AquaBounty is the company that wants FDA approval of its salmon that grows faster than normal. The company is missing legally required permits and inspections, most critically a missing permit for wastewater. In addition, the company has reported "lost" GE salmon after severe weather in Panama. The area around the AquaBounty facility experiences routine flooding and bad weather. Consumer and food safety advocates are concerned that these fish can escape the farms and enter the wild, where they will breed with wild salmon and change their DNA. Food & Water Watch, along with the Center for Food Safety, Friends of the Earth, and GeneWatch … [Read more...]
Council in Kaua’i Mandates Pesticide, GMO Reports
The Center for Food Safety (CFS) reports that the Kaua'i County Council overturned a mayoral veto of a bill that would require an assessment of risks stemming from pesticide use and the cultivation of genetically engineered crops. Mayor Bernard Carvalho vetoed the legislation last week. Sylvia Wu, an attorney with the Center for Food Safety said in a statement, "the people of Kaua'i have demanded that their elected representatives serve the people, not the corporations. Today the County Council proved that the people of Kaua'i cannot be bullied by big corporations with deep pockets." Bill 2491 requires that biotech and chemical companies report and publicly disclose the pesticides and the GE crops they use on the island. In addition, no pesticides can be used near schools, medical … [Read more...]
GMO Labeling Law Loses in Washington
The GMO labeling ballot initiative was defeated in Tuesday's voting. The initiative, I-522, would have made manufacturers label foods made from genetically engineered (GE) and genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Washington state voting is done by mail, so votes will be counted until December 5, 2013. Yes on 522 is currently behind by almost 8 points and unlikely to make up the difference. And just like the fight for Prop 37 in California, early polls indicated strong support for the initiative, which declined after a media campaign blitz by corporations. Other states that have labeling laws include Connecticut and Maine, but those laws will not go into effect until five other states have passed similar laws. Next year, which is an election year, more than 20 other states may have GMO … [Read more...]
Center for Food Safety Tells FDA GE is Not Natural
The Center for Food Safety (CFS) is asking the FDA to tell the Northern District Court of California they will not define the marketing label "natural". CFS says that complying with the Court request would violate federal law. The FDA needs to define the label through the Administrative Procedure Act rule-making process. The court case that spurred the request is about ingredients in products that are produced using genetically engineered seed. The case is about foods grown from GE or GMO seeds being labeled "natural", "all natural" or "100% natural". Defining the term "natural" is controversial. In 1993 the agency issued guidance saying that the only ingredients not allowed in a food labeled "natural" are added colors, synthetic substances, and flavors. The FDA does not have a … [Read more...]
No Scientific Consensus on GMO Safety
The European Network of Scientists for Social and Environmental Responsibility (ENSSER) has released a statement that there is "no scientific consensus on GMO safety." The statement was signed by more than 90 scientists, academics, and doctors. The statement was issued in response to comments by some GM seed developers, scientists, and journalists who have said there is a consensus on GMO safety and that the debate on this topic is over. The signers say that "the claim that [scientific consensus] does exist is misleading and misrepresents the currently available scientific evidence and the broad diversity of opinion among scientists on this issue. Moreover, the claim encourages a climate of complacency that could lead to a lack of regulatory and scientific rigour and appropriate … [Read more...]
Senator Mikulski Introduces Bill to Repeal Monsanto Protection Act
Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) is introducing an alternative short term government funding bill today that would repeal the so-called "Monsanto Protection Act." Last week the House passed a Continuing Resolution that would fund the government for three months beyond the deadline of September 30, 2013, and also extended a rider that guarantees agrichemical companies can sell GMO and genetically engineered seeds even if a federal court declares them unlawful. Mikulski's bill would strip that provision before sending the bill back to the House. Center for Food Safety is asking interested consumers to call their senators and ask them to support Senator Mikulski's bill. Colin O'Neil, director of government affairs for the Center for food Safety said in a statement, "Chairwoman Mikulski's … [Read more...]
House Extends “Monsanto Protection Act”
Last week the U.S. House voted to extend the so-called "Monsanto Protection Act" in the short-term three month appropriations bill. The rider "undermines federal courts’ ability to safeguard farmers and the environment from potentially hazardous genetically engineered (GE) crops," according to the Center for Food Safety. Colin O'Neil, director of Government affairs for the Center for Food Safety said in a statement, "it is extremely disappointing to see the damaging 'Monsanto Protection Act" policy rider extended in the House spending bill. Hundreds of thousands of Americans called their elected officials to voice their frustration and disappointment over the inclusion of the Act this past spring. Its inclusion is a slap in the face to the American public and to our justice … [Read more...]
GE Alfalfa Contamination Reported in Washington State
An export shipment of alfalfa from Washington state was rejected after it tested positive for contamination from genetically engineered (GE) herbicide-resistant alfalfa. The U.S. is the primary supplier of alfalfa to Japan, Saudi Arabia, and other countries which have banned GMO foods or require labeling of the product. The market was valued at $1.25 billion in 2012. Earlier this year, unapproved GE wheat was found growing in Oregon in violation of the Plant Protection Act. There are no GMO wheat crops approved for sale or growth in the U.S. at this time. Andrew Kimbrell, executive director for Center for Food Safety said in a statement, "for nearly a decade, Center for Food Safety has vigorously opposed the introduction of GE alfalfa, precisely because it was virtually certain to … [Read more...]
New Study Claims GMO Labeling Will Not Affect Food Prices
A new study released by the national Just Label It campaign has found that requiring food manufacturers to label products that contain genetically engineered (GE) and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) will not increase food prices. The study was conducted by food marketing expert Kai Robertson. He found no evidence connecting changes in food labels to supermarket prices. The labeling controversy has played out in the political arena. Last year, a labeling campaign in California, Prop 37, was defeated in the November elections after a massive spending campaign by the group No on 37, which was sponsored by food giants Monsanto, General Mills, and Dupont. More than 30 states are putting the issue on ballots this year and next year, and Maine and Connecticut have passed GMO labeling … [Read more...]
