U.S. House Caves to Big Food, Votes to Keep Americans in the Dark About GMOs

[Ferd Berfel]

http://www.alternet.org/food/us-house-caves-big-food-votes-keep-americans-dark-about-gmos


Why is it that so many politicians are all about letting states make decisions on controversial issues—until some states want to do something that Big Food companies oppose?

This week thousands of Americans took time out of their busy days to call their Senators to demand that they vote against the DARK Act, a bill sponsored by Kansas Senator Pat Roberts, which would prevent consumers from knowing if the food they eat and feed their families contains genetically engineered (GMO) ingredients. Their support for GMO labeling was echoed by more than 600 organizations, including farming and fishing groups and food companies, representing tens of millions of members and customers who this week also urged the Senate to reject this troubling bill.

GMO crops are created by transferring genetic material from one organism into another to create specific traits, such as resistance to treatment with herbicides, or to make a plant produce its own pesticide to repel insects. Unlike traditional plant and animal breeding, which tries to develop better varieties by selecting traits from the same species, genetic engineering techniques can insert specific genes from any plant, animal or microorganism into the DNA of a different species.

The DARK Act passed out of committee last week by a 14-6 vote and is expected to hit the Senate floor any day now. The House already passed a similar bill in July. If passed in the Senate, it will block state laws that require labeling of GMOs, instruct the USDA to implement a voluntary labeling program and kick off a USDA propaganda program to sell the public on GMOs.

But an overwhelming majority of Americans—over 90 percent in many polls—support GMO labeling.


But an overwhelming majority of Americans—over 90 percent in many polls—support GMO labeling.


But an overwhelming majority of Americans—over 90 percent in many polls—support GMO labeling.
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Only the republicans (in both parties) support this

[KG]

1. GMO's are perfectly safe, so there's no need for you to know anything....

[AxionExcel]

2. Dead wrong. No scientific consensus on this. Despite relentless corporate propaganda.

This standard GMO-Chemical-Pharmaceutical Corporate talking point is trotted out again and again and again - but has been thoroughly debunked.

"No need to know anything" That's a pretty damn dangerous Republican-style philosophy to carry through life.

"A statement signed by over 300 scientists and legal experts to the effect that there is “No consensus” on the safety of genetically modified (GM) crops and foods has been published in a peer-reviewed open access journal, Environmental Sciences Europe.[1] It now belongs to the body of open peer-reviewed scientific literature and stands as a citable publication.

http://www.ensser.org/media/0115/

[Autumn Colors]

4. Great

Then there should be no problem labeling them as such and letting the market decide what it wants or doesn't want.

Capitalism and all that ...

[AxionExcel]

5. "...there's no need for you to know anything..."

The Republicans are going to snap that up for a plank in their party platform.

[Ferd Berfel]

7. It's irrelevant whether The Corporate Elite, or you, think GMO's are safe

majority of Americans—over 90 percent in many polls—support GMO labeling.

In a Democracy 90% is supposed to win

[AxionExcel]

13. Yay American wisdom. But the Republican Congress don't give a shit.

[Hoyt]

3. Fortunately, we can buy food labeled as "No GMOs." Just assume anything without

"100% Organic" contains some GMOs.

I'm not particularly concerned about GMOs, but I get some are. Nor, am I opposed to labeling, just doesn't seem a big deal to me.

[Dont call me Shirley]

6. "Monsanto aims to keep the public in the dark" Act

[Archae]

8. Science is not a popularity contest.

A hundred years ago 90% of the US was against teaching evolution.

50 years ago the majority believed whites were the "superior race."

30 years ago the majority believed AIDS was a "punishment from God."

[Ferd Berfel]

9. No it isn't - and that's not the point is it !

Access to information must be. And that's what this is about.

Don't tell me I can't know or don't need to know what's in my fucking food - or where it came from for that matter!

Especially when it only because some fucking transnational corporation is afraid it might fuck up their profits

Insane.

[AxionExcel]

10. Science is not supposed to be a corporately funded propaganda tool, either

...But, alas, it so often is...

[Gormy Cuss]

12. Science is also not static.

DDT was the first new, synthetic pesticide of the post WWII age. Initially science showed it to be highly effective with little if any risk. Later science proved otherwise.

Science gave us X-rays over a hundred years ago and they were quickly adopted in industrial and later medical use with little thought to potentially side effects. Later science proved that limiting exposure was more prudent.

Food scientists found a way to solidify oils to form a no cholesterol alternative to butter and other saturated fats. Even though the science was weak, partially hydrogenated oils were used with abandon for decades before recent science showed that trans fats consumed were in fact ALSO bad for cardiovascular health.

[AxionExcel]

11. I am taking my stand with those who advocate knowledge and free will

and I oppose the Republican, Inc. congress - and Democratic sellouts - who would steal that knowledge and that right from us.