Attempts at Mandatory Food Labeling Continue

January 21, 2014. Recently a letter was addressed to President Obama from various organic food industry groups, consumers, and members of Congress. The letter was intended to persuade President Obama to move forward with the implementation of labeling requirements for genetically modified (GMO) foods.

In support of their position, the organic food industry groups, and select members of Congress, cite to President Obama’s campaign rhetoric from 2007 in which he stated “Here’s what I’ll do as president … We’ll let folks know if their food has been genetically modified, because Americans should know what their buying.”

Signatories on the letter include: U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), U.S. Rep. Ann McLane Kuster (D-NH); and U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Ben & Jerry’s, Nature’s Path, Stoneyfield Farms, the Consumer Federation of America and several environmental and health groups.

A trade association, The Grocery Manufacturers Association, which represents over 300 food companies, is continuing to lobby Congress, and various Executive Agencies and Departments, to provide a comprehensive solution to food labeling requirements. With the intent of preventing a piecemeal, and state based, approach to the labeling of food products. This includes recent opposition to ballot initiatives in California and Washington to implement food labeling requirements concerning GMO foods.

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