Posted on 05/11/2014 12:01:22 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
(CNN) -- Vermont's governor on Thursday signed a bill into law that will require the labeling of genetically modified foods -- hailing it as the first such law in the nation.
Under the new law, food offered for retail sale that is entirely or partially produced with genetic engineering must be labeled as such by July 2016.
"Vermonters take our food and how it is produced seriously, and we believe we have a right to know what's in the food we buy," said Gov. Peter Shumlin. "More than 60 countries have already restricted or labeled these foods, and now one state -- Vermont -- will also ensure that we know what's in the food we buy and serve our families."
In the absence of federal action, other states have introduced similar legislation or ballot initiatives, according to the non-profit Center for Food Safety.
Maine and Connecticut passed laws requiring labeling, but they won't go into effect until other states pass GMO-labeling laws. Vermont is the first to pass a "no strings attached" bill, the watchdog group said.
Supporters of the law expect it will be challenged in court.
"I can make no predictions or promises about how the courts will ultimately rule but I can promise that my office will mount a vigorous and zealous defense of the law that has so much support from Vermont consumers," said Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell.
The governor tweeted: "Those opposed will put up a fight. Help us fight back."
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
And this legislation won't work when everybody labels everything "May contain GMO ingredients". It will be meaningless, like other similar legislation.
/johnny
Nonsense, we don’t need that Non-GMO label, we already have one. It’s the label Organic.
Like the Homosexuals, the Food Luddites aren’t content to live and let live. Witness this new law, not all that different than a ‘Homosexual Marriage’ law.
The Food Luddites are insistent on imposing their beliefs on everyone. Just like the homosexuals.
Not to worry, based on recent weather trends, people are going to be clamoring for GMO within the decade.
Foolish man, you left out the names of the other 30 or 40 companies with successful GMO patents.
Welll gollie perhaps they should label things correctly then Johnnie.
They managed to figure out how many calories were in their stuff and whether or not its organic and where its processed.
They can just put their big boy pants on and figure it out.
It's stupid legislation that won't achieve the desired goal.
/johnny
Well perhaps you can just use a wild card and just substitute whichever company your political officer recommends.
>> While I like the labeling, I prefer it as the result of the free market. I’m not a fan of Big Gov forcing this.
I’m not sure how important it is to know whether or not a food product is GMO based. But, plenty of labels claim a non-GMO product which is the free market in action.
Hell, fish isn’t packaged with labels indicating mercury levels, so why should the consumer get all crazy about the potential, unknown consequences of genetically engineered, patented, market-controlled super food?
They will when it effects their sales, or when the law says they have to have more clarity.
Not everything the govt does is bad. Especially when its proven an industry cannot regulate itself.
Fish isn’t labeled with a lot of things that aren’t relevant.
How real do you think it is?
It won't affect sales, because almost everything has GMO ingredients at some level. And people aren't going to stop eating over yet another food scare.
And I don't know how you can specify more clarity than is or isn't GMO. That's pretty binary.
/johnny
Concern about screwing around with DNA is not a “fetish” or “yet another food scare”. Those people are pushing buttons to see what happens and have no idea if what they are doing will have long term consequences.
Comparing what they are doing today in labs to selective breeding techniques of the past is dishonest. The could easily flip the wrong switch and kill all wheat around the world.
Yes govts screw things up but whats the answer, anarchy? We created a govt to protect us. Companies simply will not do what is ethical and moral in order to manage it themselves.
I was simply pointing out your ignorance on this subject.
I was talking over the top of your head, I’ll do better in the future.
I’m cynical because I’ve had dozens of CEO’s/CFOs/CIOs tell me they didn’t want to know what was wrong with their IT security. If they knew they’d be forced to fix it.
They’d rather take the risk of losing their customers information then spend the money to fix it. Spending money would effect their bonus ya know.
>> A luddite, it see. Someone afraid of technology they personally do not understand so they shun it.
Proponents of embryonic stem cell research make similar assertions.
I’m more concerned about govt regulating food production and sales. We’ve heard about small markets being raided and shutdown in recent years; seemingly a crime to harvest/produce locally.
What happens when we have practically no choice but to consume Monsanto’s patented byproducts for example?
It’s not an irrational fear to demand information about the origins of the food one is consuming. How the govt gets involved is complicated by its control and regulation of food supplies.
No, I’m quite well read on this subject. Have you ever met an actual genetic scientist?
And it IS another food scare for most people. They tune out the true believers and ignore them because they are strident and won't shut up.
Since you say no one knows what the long term consequences are... who is to say they are all bad? That works both ways.
The DNA tinkering is happening. Has already happened. God alone knows the outcome. I'm not seeing anyone dropping dead yet.
/johnny
I don’t read the labels on a damn thing.
Makes no difference to me what the hell they want to put on there.
Its a step in the right direction.
Are you saying mercury levels in fish are not relevant?
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