80+ Groups Oppose Banning GMO Labeling

by: Jill Richardson

Tue Apr 20, 2010 at 20:39:04 PM PDT

During the first week in May, members of the international community are meeting in Canada to discuss international food labeling standards. This is a part of Codex Alimentarius, a UN agency that develops food and safety standards (and freaks a lot of people out). The U.S. (specifically the USDA and FDA) has drafted a position that opposes a Codex document allowing countries to each set their own rules on labeling genetically modified foods. In other words, the U.S. wants to keep the entire world from labeling GMOs. They want this because U.S. companies make a fortune selling GM seeds, and the U.S. produces a large percentage of the world's genetically modified crops. And one of our governement's top food safety gurus, Michael Taylor, used to work for Monsanto. (That's not the reason they give for their opposition, of course. But who are they kidding?)

Unfortunately (for Michael Taylor), the people of the United States don't all agree with Michael Taylor. Some of us WANT GMOs to be labeled. At the very least, other countries should have the right to require labels even if our country does not. Thus, 80+ groups have signed onto a letter to the USDA and FDA opposing their opposition to Codex letting countries set their own policies on GMO labeling. (In other words, the signers of the letter WANT countries to be permitted to require GMO labeling if they wish.)

Signers of the letter include Consumers Union, Food Democracy Now, the Union of Concerned Scientists, R-CALF USA, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, and a vast number of organic food, farming, and consumer groups, anti-GMO groups, pesticide reform groups, food companies, and farms. You can view Consumers Union's press release about the letter below, and you can view the letter here [PDF].

Victory in Kansas!!!!!! Gov. Sebelius Vetoes rbGH Labeling Bill

by: Jill Richardson

Thu Apr 23, 2009 at 18:11:57 PM PDT

Kansas farms, consumer groups and businesses Catalpa Grove Gardens, Pretty Prairie, Community Mercantile Consumer Coop, Creek Four Mill, Iwig Family Dairy, Janzen Family Farms, Kansas City Food Circle, Kayala Emu Estates, Hesston, Larson Acres, Little Red Hen Bakery, Norm's Flour, Sierra Club Kansas Chapter, Spring Creek Ranch, Wichitaw Food Coop, AllergyKids, Breast Cancer Action, The Cornucopia Institute, Organic Consumers Association, Center for Environmental Health, Center for Food Safety, Center for Media and Democracy, Consumers Union, Family Farm Defenders, Food and Water Watch, The Humane Society of the United States, Institute for Responsible Technology, National Family Farm Coalition, Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility, Organic Farming Research Foundation, Sierra Club, and Stonyfield Farm, Inc.

... and me) have been asking Sebelius to veto this bill since it passed the Kansas state legislature a few weeks ago. I, for one, did not expect her to actually veto it. I am THRILLED that she did veto it and even more thrilled that a public servant who obviously listens to citizens' opinions as well as science will soon take the reins at the Department of Heath and Human Services, which overseas the FDA. The FDA is the agency that legalized the growth hormone rbGH in the first place and I hope to see that decision reversed under Sebelius based on all of the facts that have been revealed since the hormone was first legalized in the early 1990s.

Sebelius' statement from her veto as well as several reactions from various leaders in the food community are posted below.