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

[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.
-------------------------------------------------

Only the republicans (in both parties) support this