Oppose Monsanto's Dream GMO Bill, HR 1599 _ (Use Fax Petition to Contact Your Representatives)

[Indi Guy]

Representative Mike Pompeo (R Kansas) 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...

Full article: http://farmtoconsumer.org/aa/aa-07April2015.htm
Petition: http://farmtoconsumer.org/petitions/pnum1206.php

[lbrtbell]

1. Thanks for sharing this info!

Signed, kicked, and sharing on Facebook!

[Indi Guy]

3. Thank you...

Any legislation that's good for Monsanto must be exposed to public scrutiny.

[longship]

2. Although I fully support genetic modification in agriculture, I oppose this bill.

However, I do not support mandatory labeling either because the boundaries of what is, and is not, genetic modification is not well defined. From some perspectives all food is genetically modified. Furthermore, the Frankenfood arguments of the anti-GMO forces are exceptionally weak and are not backed up by the basic science. From many perspectives all the food we eat is genetically modified and science shows no boundary lines between what might be called natural and artificial modification. So the anti-GMO crowd is just plain wrong on some things.

On the other hand, one must ask the question, what is the purpose of this bill?

That alone is reason enough to oppose it, regardless of ones position on genetic modification.

So I support both genetic modification in agriculture and this thread.

R&K

[Indi Guy]

4. Please clarify...

...your opposition to the bill.

[longship]

5. It seems a bit excessive.

But again, what is the purpose of this bill? Why is it being proposed? When one considers the possible responses to those questions, I don't think there is any argument that would support it unless one worked for a big agri company.

Also, the bill does not really do anything unless someone proposes GM labeling in a domain within this bill's jurisdiction. In Kansas, it may be that the bill is moot. So why propose it? Who does it serve?

On the other hand, I consider the science behind GM food to be pretty damned certain; that it is completely safe. Mandatory labeling laws would be against that science, which is why I oppose them, too. But I also cannot support a bill that would make labeling illegal.