| | Oppose Monsanto's Dream GMO Bill, HR 1599 Use Fax Petition to Contact Your Representatives
Representative Pompeo has introduced a bill, the so-called "Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act", HR 1599, that would prohibit state efforts to require labeling of genetically engineered foods (also referred to as genetically modified organisms [GMOs] or bioengineered organisms). This is Monsanto's dream bill: it would allow big corporations that make and use GMOs to continue to hide them from consumers, keeping Americans in the dark about what is in their food. In fact, some of our allies are calling this the DARK Act (i.e., the "Denying Americans the Right to Know" Act). Who's behind this bill? The Grocery Manufacturers Association, an industry group that represents corporations like Monsanto, Nestlé and Dow, has been working with cronies in Congress to get this bill re-introduced in the current Congress session, after failing to pass it last year. Voluntary labeling is a proven failure. While we usually support voluntary programs over mandatory programs, when it comes to GMOs, this is the wrong approach. There has already been voluntary labeling for the last 13 years--and not one company has voluntarily labeled its products as containing GMOs. As long as Americans don't realize that GMOs are in their food, they'll keep buying these companies' products. This isn't how the free market is supposed to work--this is essentially fraud! Tell your U.S. legislators to reject HR 1599. Use the fax petition and follow up with a phone call or email! Please pass this alert on and ask others to do the same.
|
Action #1 - Use Fax Petition Please use this fax petition to fax your U.S. Representative and Senators to urge them to reject HR 1599! Also, please be courteous as this helps to build good relations with the legislature.
|
Action #2 - Follow Up with Calls Call your U.S. Representative and both Senators urging them to reject HR 1599, Pompeo's so-called "Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act." Call and ask to speak to the staffer who handles food issues. Explain that you're a constituent and that you want the right to know whether your food contains GMOs--and that means labeling the foods that have these patented ingredients, NOT requiring labeling of the natural foods without GMOs.
You can find out who represents you by going to www.house.gov, www.senate.mo.gov or by calling the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121. See talking points below. |
Talking Points We have a right to know what is in our food so that we can make educated decisions about the food we eat. - HR 1599 would actually prohibit states from mandating GMO labeling, undoing the grassroots efforts in states like Connecticut, Maine, Vermont, and other states.
- In the 13 years that FDA has allowed companies to voluntarily label genetically engineered foods, not one single company has done so. Without mandatory labeling, consumers are effectively being defrauded.
- HR 1599 prohibits making "safety" claims about non-GMO options. There are no long-term human health studies on GMOs. Contrary to the claims from the industry, there is no scientific consensus on the safety of GMOs for human health or the environment.
- HR 1599 excludes dairy, eggs, poultry and meat even though the source animals are fed GMOs. It even excludes the genetically engineered salmon. Without mandatory labeling of GMOs, tracing any impacts of GMOs on human health in the population is effectively impossible.
- HR 1599 places the burden and expense on producers of non-GMO foods through a "non-bioengineered food certification program" which allows GMO proponents to contaminate the food supply without any repercussions. Instead biotech companies and users bear little cost and get to maintain their profit margins at the expense of organic and environmentally sustainable food producers.
- Current laws are keeping consumers in the dark. The free market can only work when consumers have the information they need to make informed choices among different products.
|
 |
Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit [EIN 20-8605130], defends the rights and broadens the freedoms of family farms and artisan food producers while protecting consumer access to raw milk and nutrient-dense foods. Learn more About Us or read the FTCLDF 2013 Summary.
Donations to the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund are always appreciated though not tax-deductible. Prefer to make a tax-deductible donation? Contact us by email at [email protected] or call 703-208-FARM (3276). |
Please forward this alert to others who are concerned about protecting locally-sourced nutrient-dense foods and preserving sustainable small family farms and artisan food producers as well as defending the rights to sell and to access the foods of one's choice from the source of one's choice. |
| | | | | | |
|
