Push For GMO Labeling Has Reached Pennsylvania

State Senator Daylin Leach last week introduced a bill that would require labeling of genetically engineered foods in Pennsylvania. No state has been successful in passing this type of legislation, but this bill looks promising with 12 cosponsors and bipartisan support.

Says Leach:

"This bill is not meant to prevent genetic engineering. It is not limited in anyway. It doesn't stop anyone from purchasing bigger salmon or allegedly pesticide resistant crops that have been genetically engineered. But some people do not want to consume that. Why can't they know and make their own decisions?"
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"We can find out how much fat and sodium are in our food, with a full list of ingredients and nutritional information on every box, but we are not informed about the inclusion of ingredients that could be potentially detrimental to our health and wellness."

This is revealing:

"The bill would take effect 18 months after passage. Manufacturers and distributors would have to affix labels on the products."

Why does Whole Foods need 5 years to accomplish the same task? Something is smelly about Whole Foods' GMO labeling announcement.

According to Leach's website:

"61 countries (including Japan, South Korea, China, Australia, Russia, Malaysia, the European Union member states and other key U.S. trading partners) already have laws requiring disclosure of genetically modified organisms on food labels."

The United States is the only industrialized nation that does not require transparency on GMO ingredients.

It's not that people aren't lobbying for labeling. Last March, the FDA appeared to dismiss a petition signed by 1.2 million supporters of GMO labeling saying in effect: We've made no decision and require more time.
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