Whole Foods GMO Labeling To Be Mandatory By 2018
huffingtonpost.comWhole Foods has announced that by 2018, all products in U.S. and Canada stores must be labeled if they contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs). This is the first national grocery store to set a deadline from GMO labeling.
“We are putting a stake in the ground on GMO labeling to support the consumer’s right to know,” said Walter Robb, co-CEO of Whole Foods Market, in a press release. “The prevalence of GMOs in the U.S. paired with nonexistent mandatory labeling makes it very difficult for retailers to source non-GMO options and for consumers to choose non-GMO products. Accordingly, we are stepping up our support of certified organic agriculture, where GMOs are not allowed, and we are working together with our supplier partners to grow our non-GMO supply chain to ensure we can continue to provide these choices in the future.”
GMO Labeling Bill Voted Down In Senate
huffingtonpost.comWASHINGTON — The United States Senate decided again Thursday that it simply does not want to let states tell people whether or not they are eating genetically modified food. The Senate voted overwhelmingly —- 71 to 27 — against an amendment to the sweeping farm bill, squashing a measure that would not have required labeling of genetically modified organisms, but merely would have let states decide if they wanted to require such labeling.
Initiative to require labeling GMO food to be submitted
seattletimes.comA legislative initiative that would require food companies to label products containing genetically modified organisms is set to be filed Thursday with the Secretary of State’s office in Olympia.
A similar measure was defeated by California voters last fall in a battle that pitted big and small businesses against each other. Monsanto, Nestle, Hershey and others raised $46 millionseati.ms/WiZ8RC against organic food companies and other groups, which raised $9.2 million.
The big businesses argued that labeling would raise food prices and hurt farmers.
