The battle between consumer groups and the Grocery Manufacturer’s Association (GMA) on the subject of unlabelled genetically modified foods (GMOs) continues. One year after a federal bill, nicknamed by its opposition as ‘the Dark Act’ because it denies Americans the right to know if their food was made with GMOs, was introduced. It was introduced to nullify the attempts of multiple states to make it compulsory for GMO foods to be labeled.
Bill HR1599, otherwise referred ironically to as the “Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act” (can we say Orwellian Newspeak?), was drafted by U.S. Rep. Mike Pompeo. It aims to revoke bills in almost twelve states that requires foods made with genetically engineered crops to be clearly labeled. The GMA – supporters of corporations such as Nestlé, Monsanto and Dow et al- has dedicated its efforts towards getting it introduced at the current Congressional session.
Many consider the act to be something which provides corporations with the power to hide the content of their foods from American consumers. The Weston A. Price Foundation has called it “Monsanto’s dream bill” because “it would allow big corporations that make and use GMOs to continue to hide them from consumers, keeping Americans in the dark about what is in their food” on a permanent basis. These corporations fear the impact labeling could have on their sales, once the public are more aware of GMOs.
It therefore raises concerns that if the bill is passed, then GMOs could be sold in every product, completely unlabeled. Alarmingly, everyday American consumers will likely never be given the opportunity to fully determine what they are putting into their bodies. In fact you are likely already unaware of the multitude of foods which already contain genetically engineered foods or ingredients. The National Geographic reported that “more than 60 percent of all processed foods on U.S. supermarket shelves –including pizza, chips, cookies, ice cream, salad dressing, corn syrup, and baking powder” contain GMOs.
‘The Dark Act’ deceivingly acts as a solution for safety and accuracy, by practicing a “hollow voluntary labeling scheme,” yet natural farmers are forced to label their non-GMO products at their own expense through the United Stated Department of Agriculture. The GMA and large corporations are simply playing a corrupt and unfair game.
Weston A. Price Foundation cautions (Emphasis by author):
Voluntary Labeling is a Proven Failure
While we usually support voluntary programs over mandatory programs, when it comes to GMOs, this is the wrong approach. There has already been voluntary labeling for the last 13 years — and not one company has voluntarily labeled its products as containing GMOs.
As long as Americans don’t realize that GMOs are in their food, they’ll keep buying these companies’ products. This isn’t how the free market is supposed to work — this is essentially fraud!
To aid in the fight against the enactment of this bill, you can do your part by making adamant demands from your Representatives to oppose HR 1599. Voice your opinion by Tweeting or writing to them.
Find them at www.house.gov or by calling the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.
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Sources: http://theantimedia.org/monsanto-dream-bill-block-gmo-labeling-dark-act/
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/09/usa-gmo-lawmaking-idUSL2N0N115F20140409
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/food-how-altered/
They’re afraid that labeling their products will hurt sales? When they are already multi-million dollar corporations. Is honesty not the right policy when it comes to telling the consumer what they are putting in their bodies? Apparently so…
and what do the Corporations feed there own kids ehh? this is what i like to call one of the major food groups of fucked up