Dear Readers,
Too bad but I think most of the senate are making their decision based on one sided information and not acknowledging the more that a million Americans that want and need this basic information about the food they eat. Interesting to see how each senator voted (see link below) and also be sure to take the poll that Senator Sanders is offering.
Onward,
Thomas
NOTE: See how each senator voted here
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=112&session=2&vote=00161
POLL: Have your say. Should states be allowed to require clear labels on any
food or beverage containing genetically engineered ingredients?
http://www.sanders.senate.gov/polls/index.cfm
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1.Senate rejects Sanders' food labeling amendment
Sen. Bernie Sanders office, June 21 2012
http://vtdigger.org/2012/06/21/senate-rejects-sanders-food-labeling-amendment/
WASHINGTON - The Senate today rejected an amendment by Sen. Bernie Sanders
(I-Vt.) to let states require clear labels on any food or beverage containing
genetically engineered ingredients.
The vote on the amendment to the farm bill was 26 to 73.
"This is the very first time a bill on labeling genetically engineered food has
been brought before the Senate. It was opposed by virtually every major food
corporation in the country. While we wish we could have gotten more votes, this
is a good step forward and something we are going to continue to work on. The
people of Vermont and the people of America have a right to know what's in the
food that they eat."
In the past year, 36 bills dealing with the labeling of genetically engineered
foods have been introduced in Vermont, Alaska, California, Connecticut, Hawaii,
Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey,
New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Washington and West
Virginia.
The Vermont Legislature considered a bill that would have required labels on
genetically engineered food products. Despite House Agriculture Committee
support, however, the measure was stymied after the chemical giant Monsanto
threatened to sue the state.
Co-sponsored by Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Mark Begich (D-Alaska),
Sanders' amendment would have made clear that states have the authority to
require the labeling of foods produced through genetic engineering.
In the United States, Sanders said, food labels already must list more than
3,000 ingredients ranging from high-fructose corn syrup to trans-fats. Unlike 49
countries around the world, however, foods that contain genetically engineered
ingredients do not have to be labeled in the U.S.
The measure also would have required the Food and Drug Administration and the
U.S. Department of Agriculture to report to Congress within two years on the
percentage of food and beverages in the United States that contain genetically
engineered ingredients.
Pro-consumer organizations backing the Sanders amendment included the Center for
Food Safety; Union of Concerned Scientists; National Farmers Union;
Environmental Working Group; American Public Health Association; National
Sustainable Agriculture Coalition; Public Citizen; U.S. PIRG; New England
Farmers Union; Environment America; National Cooperative Grocers Association;
Friends of the Earth; the Sierra Club and others.
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