Food industry pressuring Congress to act before Vermont requires GMO labeling

[nationalize the fed]

Food industry looks to Congress as GMO labeling law nears

Associated Press MARY CLARE JALONICK February 4, 2016

WASHINGTON (AP) — The food industry is pressuring Congress to act before the state of Vermont requires food labels for genetically modified ingredients.

At issue is how food companies will deal with Vermont's law. They could make separate food packages just for the state, label all their items with genetically modified ingredients or withdraw from the small Vermont market. The law kicks in by July, but the companies have to start making those decisions now.



The food industry wants Congress to pre-empt Vermont's law and bar mandatory labeling of genetically modified foods before it goes into effect. They argue that GMOs, or genetically modified organisms, are safe and a patchwork of state laws isn't practical. Labeling advocates have been fighting state-by-state to enact the labeling, with the eventual goal of a national standard.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack brought the parties together twice this month to see if they could work out a compromise. But agreement won't be easy, as the industry staunchly opposes the mandatory labels. Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are divided, too, but agree that a compromise needs to be worked out before this summer...snip
Read More: http://news.yahoo.com/food-industry-looks-congress-gmo-081424942.html

When Obama wanted votes, he cared about GMO labels. Now, not so much, like many of his other promises like a public insurance option.

Vilsack isn't the best person to get involved because of his bias..

Vilsack has repeatedly demonstrated a preference for large industrial farms and genetically modified crops;[21] as Iowa state governor, he originated the seed pre-emption bill in 2005, effectively blocking local communities from regulating where genetically engineered crops would be grown; additionally, Vilsack was the founder and former chair of the Governor's Biotechnology Partnership, and was named Governor of the Year by the Biotechnology Industry Organization, an industry lobbying group https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Vilsack

[Autumn Colors]

1. Fine, they don't have to sell their products in Vermont

And then, they should just opt not to sell in states with mandatory GMO labeling. If they find they don't make enough money to stay in business ... oh well, the market spoke and they lost.

[nationalize the fed]

2. From the article

The food industry wants Congress to pre-empt Vermont's law and bar mandatory labeling of genetically modified foods

Any problems with Congress banning the labeling of GMO's?

[Autumn Colors]

3. If congress makes labeling of GMOs mandatory ...

Then those companies trying to influence congress to pre-empt that law can sell their crap in OTHER states.

I WANT mandatory labeling of GMO foods.

[gratuitous]

4. This Congress? Champions of States Rights?

I'm sure they'll tell the food industry to go piss up a rope, right? This is a matter that the individual states can work out for themselves without the big, bad federal gummint stomping in and autocratically deciding what's in everyone's best interests, right?

Right? And, if not right, why would this issue be the one that's different for the fearless defenders of citizen freedom and liberty? I'm just puzzled.

[FLPanhandle]

5. Define non-GMO food

Pretty much every plant and animal we consume has been genetically modified from it's original version.




Humans have been genetically modifying their food for generations.

We are faster at it now is all.

[KamaAina]

6. And do it differently

Everything pictured above shares essentially the same genome. Some GMO food does not, the classic example being the strawberry with fish genes in it to help it withstand frost.