GMA Members Set To Label GMOs
In light of last week’s Senate failure to pass the DARK Act, which would have stomped states’ rights to label GMOs, the writing was on the wall: Federal policy is set to follow the will of the American people, 94% of which are in favor of our right to label GMOs. Still, the lightning-fast way that major manufacturers like General Mills and Kellogg’s announced plans to label GMOs on product packaging was a surprise. What does the Grocery Manufacturers Association have to do with it?
Is GMO Labeling Fight Over?
Despite the fact that a full 93% of Americans support GMO Labeling, it looks like a losing fight, according to a new article in The Hill. But does that mean it’s been lost?
House Votes Against 90% of U.S. to Pass DARK Act: Take Steps to #StoptheDARKAct
This week, the DARK Act passed the House of Representatives, despite the fact that 9 of 10 Americans support GMO labeling. Now it’s up to the Senate to block it, so that states’ rights to label can stand. Read more for what you can do today to help #StoptheDARKAct. Meanwhile, my grandfather ran a bean elevator. I wonder what he would think about Monsanto suing farmers? This video, posted on Facebook by Neil Young, just makes me so sad.
Will @USDA Label #GMOs?
Will the USDA label GMOs? Possibly. On May 1st, an internal letter leaked to the Associated Press detailed Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack’s plans to create a labeling program in which companies could pay the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service to verify that their products contained no genetically modified ingredients.
Kaua’i Win Vs. @DuPont_News #GMOs
How to win the fight against GMOs? Take a note from Kaua’i, “the global epicenter for GE seed testing,” where residents living near the testing zone are exposed to six times the number of pesticides used on the mainland, according to the Pesticide Action Network. But these activists are fighting back–and winning.
New Year’s Resolution: Boycott Starbucks, Support GMO Labeling
Last year, my New Year’s resolutions focused on small changes that can improve your health and our environment. This year, in addition to the Shop Drop Challenge, I’m just making just one New Year’s resolution—which has the power to change everything.
GMOs, By The Numbers
Is there a more controversial subject in the food world than GMOs? I don’t think so. With Connecticut and Maine passing GMO labeling laws last year, and 20 more states considering them, we all should get well informed about Genetically Modified Organisms. My problem with GMOs is that most manipulation of these plants involves making them able to better withstand high doses of pesticides. In fact, from 1996 to 2008—the first 13 years of commercial GMO crop production—there were 318 million more pounds of pesticides applied to crops. Take a look at this infographic, part of my “by the numbers” series this month. What do you think?
3 Facts to Face About GMO Foods
People often ask me, “What is GMO” and “What’s so bad about GMO foods?” I’m not an expert by any means, but here’s my answer: Genetically engineered foods—also known as genetically modified organisms or GMO foods (it’s basically two ways of saying the same thing)—begin as plants that have had their DNA changed in a laboratory. That would be fine—I’m no science-phobe—except for the fact that most of these changes involve pesticides, herbicides and insecticides.
