GMO
Senate, House bills would require GMO food labels
House and Senate sponsors announced a new drive in Congress to require labels on food made with genetically modified organisms. "Consumers have a right to know what is in the foods they eat," said California Sen. Barbara Boxer, one of the lead sponsors of the legislation. Oregon Rep. Peter DeFazio, the lead sponsor in the House, said, "If food manufacturers stand by their product and the technology they use to make it, they should have no problem disclosing that information to consumers."
China takes cautious path on GE crops
A top Chinese agriculture official says the world's most populous nation will continue research into genetically engineered crops, and will assure the safety of the technology, Reuters reports.
The label says “GMO free” but no uniformity on certification
While lawmakers argue over labeling food made with genetically modified organisms, "products certified as containing no genetically modified organisms are proliferating on grocery shelves without any nationwide mandatory regulations," says the New York Times.
Small Ohio creamery aims to revolutionize milk
Snowville Creamery is a small operation with big ideas and run by a career dairyman, says Civil Eats. Says owner Warren Taylor, “I built a creamery to prove that we can produce good high quality, good tasting milk for everybody in America.”
Researchers create “genetic firewall,” could be used in GMOs
Two teams of scientists achieved a milestone - creation of bacteria that cannot survive without a specific artificial chemical, says Reuters, "potentially overcoming a major obstacle to wider use of genetically modified organisms."
Ending dispute, China clears Syngenta GE corn for import
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack relayed word of Chinese approval Syngenta's MIR 162 corn variety, which has roiled corn sales for months and prompted dozens of lawsuits, says the Financial Times.
Idaho aggies mull bill to prevent GMO food labeling
Led by sugar growers and processors, farm groups in Idaho are considering whether to push for a state law against labeling food made with genetically modified organisms, says Capital Press.
EU will let members decide whether to grow GM crops
By a large majority, the European Parliament voted to let EU members decide whether to allow genetically modified crops to be grown on their land, says BBC News. Until now, decisions on GE crops were made for the bloc as a whole.
Will low market prices bring uptick in conventional seeds?
The lion's share of U.S. corn, soybeans and cotton sprouts from genetically engineered seed, according to an annual USDA survey of growers.
Yes on 92 concedes, Oregon says no to GMO food label
The Yes on Measure 92 campaign admitted defeat of the Oregon referendum to put special labels on food made with genetically modified organisms. In a statement on its Web site, the campaign said it "is ending its efforts today." The initiative lost by 837 votes out of 1.5 million ballots, according to unofficial results of an automatic recount, two dozen more than the certified Nov 4 results.
Oregon recount nearly complete, GMO label seems doomed
Only Clackamas and Sherman counties have yet to complete their recount of ballots on Oregon's Measure 92 to require labels on food made with genetically modified organisms.
Pompeo hopes to act early in 2015 against GMO labeling
Congress could act early in 2015 on legislation to pre-empt state and local requirements for labels on food made with genetically modified organisms, said Kansas Rep Mike Pompeo, sponsor of a bill to keep labeling voluntary.
Farm Bureau head opposes GMO food labels
The leader of the largest U.S. farm organization said GMO food labeling, debated at the state level for the past three years, would result in "patchwork regulation that will do nothing but raise the cost of food." At the opening session of the American Farm Bureau Federation convention in San Diego, president Bob Stallman said "we need a national, fact-based approach to food labeling." Stallman also said, "We need to maintain farmers' access to better seeds and technology, whether it's through today's technology or innovations yet to come."
GMO labeling fight to come to Congress in 2015
After three years of state-level referendums that cost $100 million, the fight over labeling GMO foods will come to Congress in 2015, say two organization leaders, Laura Batcha of the Organic Trade Association and Scott Faber of the Just Label It campaign. "The fight is shifting to D.C.," Faber told reporters at a breakfast sponsored by OTA. Batcha said "we really see 2015 as the year the fight moves to Washington."
Judge rejects a restraining order on Oregon GMO recount
Multnomah County Judge Henry Kantor turned down a request for a temporary restraining order in the ongoing recount of voting on Oregon's Measure 92 to require labels on food made with genetically modified organisms, said the Portland Oregonian.
Vermont GMO labeling contest comes to national stage
Assistant House Majority Leader Kate Webb, a sponsor of Vermont's GMO food labeling law, is scheduled to testify at a House subcommittee hearing on federal regulation of the foods on Wednesday.
Federal court hearing is first day of long GMO fight
Vermont Attorney General Bill Sorrell says a federal court hearing was just the first day of a long legal battle over the state's law that requires, from July 1, 2016, special labels on foods made with genetically modified organisms.
High stakes in Vermont GMO labeling lawsuit
Oral arguments are tentatively set for early January in U.S. District Court in Vermont on the state's law that requires, from July 1, 2016, special labels on food made with genetically modified organisms, says the Burlington (VT) Free Press.