Vermont Expected to Be First State to Mandate GMO Labeling
Consumers in the U.S. want to know what is in their food. It’s that simple. According to an article posted this week in the Los Angeles Times, Vermont might be the first state to mandate labeling of genetically modified foods (GMOs).
As stated in the article, “under a law signed this month, the tiny New England state, population 626,000, will soon require that food companies tell consumers which products on grocers' shelves have genetically modified ingredients. In doing so, Vermont could force food growers, processors and retailers to upend how they serve hundreds of millions of customers nationwide.”
The biggest argument up to date for the opposing side, is that foods made from genetically modified crops are no riskier than non-GMO foods.
“But backers of GMO labeling argue that the issue shouldn't be about safety, but rather about a consumer's right to know. Orange juice from concentrate is safe, they note, yet the FDA requires it to be labeled. The U.S. is one of the few developed nations that does not mandate labels for genetically modified foods”.
I agree. The issue is not about safety or whether or not scientific studies have proven that GMOs are unsafe or not. The issue is about the consumer’s right to know.
It's saddening that the U.S. is one of the few developed nations that doesn’t mandate labels for GMOs. Americans live in a country that continues to serve the corporations, and not the people. And if it wasn’t always evident, then it was made plain as day after Obama signed the Monsanto Protection Act in 2013.
Americans deserve to know what they are buying, and we shouldn't settle for less.
What can you do to help?
Write a letter to your State Representative (click HERE for a list by state) urging them to support labeling of genetically engineered foods. You can also sign this online petition.
BUYING POWER. Refuse to buy GMOs, and support organic farming. And please support you local farmer’s market when possible.
Start your own garden! How To Start an Organic Garden in 10 Steps