The fight to require genetically modified foods (GMOs) to be labeled continues. One congressional member decided to take the fight to the federal level. Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO) plans to introduce a congressional bill that would require GMO foods to be labeled. Polis announced the GMO labeling bill at a press conference last week in Boulder, Colorado. Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) will co-sponsor the bill.
Polis said in a press release that he is "proud to help lead the GMO labeling bill," which he described as being all about consumer choice and information. Polis believes that it is "important to empower people with the information they need to make their own healthy choices."
Unfortunately, Colorado and New Mexico both had GMO labeling bills defeated in their state legislatures. Colorado's bill, House Bill 1192 was defeated last week in a hearing of 7 to 2. In January, legislation was introduced in New Mexico's state senate, but it was rejected "due to a procedural issue," according to GMO Inside.
The following states have introduced GMO labeling bills:
- A bill introduced into the Maryland state legislature has been assigned to the Health and Government Operations Committee
- A bill introduced this month into the Iowa state senate would require the labeling of food with over 0.9 percent GMO ingredients
- A bill introduced a few weeks ago into the Illinois state senate would make any food misbranded if it, "is entirely or partially produced with genetic engineering and that fact is not disclosed in a certain manner."
- Vermont is trying again after last year's failed bill. Earlier this month, a bill was introduced into the State House.
- A bill introduced in Hawaii's state legislature, and passed by the House Committee on Agriculture requires the labeling of GMO food. However, it was amended to apply only to food produced outside of Hawaii.
If you would like to take part in the fight to label GMO foods, GMO Inside lists several things you can do, including signing the petition directed to Hershey and Mars, urging them to phase out GMO ingredients from their products in 2013. What are you waiting for? Sign the petition! Gina-Marie Cheeseman is a freelance writer/journalist armed with a passion for healthy living and a degree in journalism. Hailing from the dry, sunny Central San Joaquin Valley of California, she has not let the heat fry her brain.
Photo Credit: MillionsAgainstMonsanto
