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 … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more