Advocates of mandatory labeling of foods made with GMO ingredients say they are not deterred by a U.S. House bill that would keep labeling voluntary and would pre-empt states from enacting labeling laws. Politico reported: “’This is an unworkable proposal,’ Colin O’Neil, director of government affairs for the Center for Food Safety, told reporters in a joint conference call with the Environmental Working Group and Organic Trade Association this afternoon. ‘We feel it reads more like a ‘contract with the devil’ than a solution to providing consumers more information about GMOs in their food.”
In a statement, Rep Mike Pompeo, Kansas Republican and sponsor of the bill, said GMO crops are safe and a uniform national standard is better than a 50-state patchwork.
Sen Barbara Boxer, California Democrat, and Rep Peter DeFazio, Oregon Democrat, have bills that would mandate GMO labeling – S809 and HR1699, respectively. Boxer filed her bill last April 24 and it has sat without action in the Senate Health Committee since. DeFazio’s companion bill also filed on April 24 and still awaits action by a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee.