Organic Consumers Opposes Warren-Udall Efforts on FDA Voluntary GMO Labeling

[bananas]

9. No - Warren is against mandatory labeling, and this could even prevent voluntary labelling

As the OP states:

If the FDA heeds Senators Warren and Udall, the agency could use the voluntary guidance to preempt state laws requiring mandatory labeling of GMOs. Currently, states have the right to enact GMO labeling laws precisely because the FDA has not formally ruled on GMO labeling. Once it does, state laws could be overturned.

The FDA’s guidance on voluntary GMO labeling also could be used to put an end to existing, legitimate voluntary non-GMO labeling efforts. By allowing the FDA, which has previously (and controversially) ruled that GMO and non-GMO foods are “substantially equivalent,” the FDA could rule against non-GMO or GMO-free labels on the basis that they mislead consumers by implying that there’s a difference between GMO and non-GMO foods.

She also voted against a bill earlier this year, as reported by PR Watch:

http://www.prwatch.org/news/2013/05/12125/us-senate-votes-down-state-gmo-labeling

U.S. Senate Votes Down State GMO Labeling

by Rebekah Wilce — May 29, 2013 - 7:43am

In the midst of a week of debates and speeches about the federal farm bill (S. 954), supporters of the right to know whether or not food products contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs) suffered a setback on May 23. An amendment (S. Amdt. 965) sponsored by Senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT) would have helped states to pass laws requiring labeling of GMO foods. (Vermont recently made history when its House of Representatives passed such a labeling bill, as CMD reported.) Sander's amendment lost, 27-71.

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Among the surprising votes against the amendment were those of Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI). The Center for Media and Democracy (CMD) reached out to both Senators' offices for comment, but did not receive responses. Massachusetts is a stronghold of the biotechnology industry, and Wisconsin grows quite a bit of genetically engineered corn and soy.

Meanwhile, Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Harry Reid (D-NV) voted for the bill, marking a switch from their no-votes when a similar amendment was introduced in 2012. Food and Water Watch, a non-profit group that works to ensure clean water and safe food, notes that other notable supporters included senators from states "with active grassroots campaigns to pass state laws on GE labeling, including both senators from Alaska, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, Oregon, Vermont, Washington and West Virginia, as well as Senator Bennett from Colorado, Senator Tester from Montana ..., [and] Senator Heinrich from New Mexico ..." (New York and Nevada also have active GMO labeling campaigns).

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