GMO labeling finally got itself a small yet big win. Last week, Connecticut became the first state in the U.S. to pass a bill through the senate that would require mandatory labeling of all GMOs. There will be some understandable exceptions that would not have to label their food as a GMO, such as fast food restaurants and farmer’s markets. But come on, that’s not at bad start.
We’re not banning anything, we’re not restricting anything, we’re not taxing anything,
Senate Republican leader John McKinney said at a press conference.
We’re just saying let moms and dads know what’s in the food they’re buying for their young kids… That’s not a lot to ask.
Would the US food industry really suffer from this type of labeling?
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If you were to complain to a fast food restaurant manager that you found a hair in your hamburger, they would probably say that’s impossible, because they don’t use any natural ingredients! Joking of course, but you get the picture.
Fortunately, there are other states in the union that are taking initiatives to make some sort of legislation for GMO labeling. As of this writing there are 29 states with initiatives for labeling of GMO products. You are able to find your own state group fighting for this initiative.
According to the polls taken from MSNBC in 2011, Reuters and Washington Post in 2010, Consumer Reports in 2008, and ABC News in 2001, 93-96% of Americans support GMO labeling. Also, according to justlabelit.org, GMO labeling is required in 64 countries worldwide. This includes most of the developed nations, exceptions being the United States of course, and Canada.
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If you are interested in seeing the whole world map of where GMO labeling is required, head over to the Center For Food Safety website.
There are only five countries in Europe that do not require labeling of GMOs. Those are Bosnia, Albania, Macedonia, Serbia, and Moldova. Serbia, however, is the exception in the group because it actually has an official ban on GMO imports and cultivation! Benin and Zambia, two countries in the African continent, are the only other countries in the world that have an official ban on importing and cultivation of GMOs.
Related Article: Don’t Fear Anti-GM Hysteria (Nor the Reaper)!
Sources:
http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/
http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/State-Senate-approves-genetic-labeling-4534999.php
http://justlabelit.org/right-to-know/labeling-around-the-world/
http://justlabelit.org/state-initiatives/
http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/ge-map/
http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/issues/976/ge-food-labeling/us-polls-on-ge-food-labeling
https://wondergressive.com/2013/04/20/united-states-senate-is-useless/
https://wondergressive.com/2013/03/28/dont-fear-the-reaper-or-anti-gm-propaganda/
https://wondergressive.com/2012/10/10/mystery-of-the-dyingdisappearing-honeybees-solved/