Support is Growing for Mandatory Labeling of GE Foods

The Campaign reported on Saturday that Senator John Edwards, Governor Bill Richardson and Senator Chris Dodd have all gone on record in favor of mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods this week in Iowa. In response to questions during their campaign visits in Fairfield, Iowa, each candidate stated that he would support legislation to require the mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods if elected to be President of the United States.

The three democratic Presidential hopefuls join the ranks of many other leaders in Iowa and across the country who are calling for mandatory labeling legislation for genetically engineered foods.

A report recently funded by the USDA and conducted by Rutgers University found that 89% of the American public feels the Federal Government should require the labeling of genetically engineered foods….89%!

When I go to the grocery store and make a purchase, it is within my rights to know where (country of origin) and how the contents of the package were grown. Truthfully, it would be almost as good as going to the Farmer’s Market – because at the Farmer’s Market, I can ask the growers these questions, and get answers. If the answers are in line with what I want in my own personal food supply, I buy their stuff, if not, I keep walking.

In the grocery stores and markets in dozens of countries around the world, GE foods are labeled. When shopping in the European Union, Japan, China (yes China), Australia, New Zealand and South Korea, consumers know what they are buying to a much greater degree than we do here in these United States. And the result of labeling GE foods in these countries is that food manufacturers have removed GE ingredients from their products.

In the United States, genetically engineered foods however are big business and products are currently not labeled, despite the fact that roughly 70% of the foods in supermarkets have GE ingredients. As demonstrated in the European Union, Japan, China (yes China) and other developed countries, labeling GE foods is the only way to restore consumer choice and to drive GE foods and crops from our system.

Another democratic Presidential hopeful, Representative Dennis Kucinich (OH-10), has not made this move towards mandatory labeling a part of his campaign repertoire - he has made it an issue and led the effort in Congress for several years. As a matter of fact, in May, 2006, he introduced the Genetically Engineered Food Right to Know Act (H.R. 5269).

While I am frustrated that something this simple is an issue in the first place, I applaud the leaders who are speaking out and making this an issue. After all, it isn’t asking too much is it – to know that the food I put in my body is made not by man but by nature?