Page 6 - the NOISE May 2014

GMO
LABEL VICTORY
IN VT!
STORY BY CINDY COLE
Vermont is poised to become the first state to enact a full GMO (genetically modified organism) labeling law as its Sen-
ate passed H. 112 on April 16 by a vote of 28-2. The legislation had previously passed Vermont’s House of Representative 99-42.
Unlike bills passed in Maine and Connecti- cut last year, there are no “trigger” clauses in Vermont’s law that would require other states to pass similar legislation. H. 112 requires all foods sold in Vermont that contain GMOs to be labeled as such by June 1, 2016. In addi- tion, Vermont’s law bans the use of words like
“natural” and “all natural” on foods that con- tain any amount of GMO ingredients.
GMO disclosure advocates speculate that having a first US state demand that food and beverage manufacturers label items as containing GMOs will have a national effect. Natural News reported: “Strictly speaking, Vermont’s H. 112 applies only to Vermont. But it will have the same impact on the mar- ketplace as a federal law. Because national food and beverage companies and super- markets will not likely risk the ire of their cus- tomers by admitting that many of the foods and brands they are selling in Vermont are genetically engineered, and deceptively la- beled as ‘natural’ or ‘all natural’; while simul- taneously trying to conceal this fact in the other 49 states and North American markets.”
Consumer demands for labeling have led to “Right To Know” and “GMO-Free” cam- paigns across the country. But the Grocery Manufacturers of American (GMA), repre- senting most of the major food and bever- age companies in the US as well as biotech companies like Monsanto and Syngenta, have used its political muscle and millions of dollars from its members to defeat ballot ini- tiatives in California and Washington in the last two years. Vermont may just be the one that got away.
In 1994, an executive for a Monsanto seed subsidiary stated: “If you put a label on ge- netically engineered food you might as well put a skull and crossbones on it.” GMO la- beling advocates certainly believe this true. And some big food companies have begun distancing themselves from the biotech lob- by, believing consumer demand for labeling has reached a fever pitch that could start to hit their bottom line. This is good news for states that plan to consider ballot initiatives as they may not have to face the same multi- million dollar campaigns that killed the Cali- fornia and Washington initiatives.
Last year, as Washingtonians prepared for
a vote, the GMA was forced to publicly reveal the names of companies that had contribut- ed funds to help defeat that state’s labeling initiative. Companies like Mars, Heinz, Sara Lee, Dole and Wrigley held back on making additional contributions to fight ballot initia- tives since.
Perhaps anticipating GMO labeling may be becoming harder to avoid, other compa- nies have already begun reformulating some products. In January, General Mills an- nounced it would remove GMO derived beet sugar (generally labeled simply as “sugar”) and corn starch from their signature break- fast cereal Cheerios. Post Foods recently announced Grape Nuts Original would be verified by the Non-GMO Project, an inde- pendent certification organization that tests and labels products claiming to be GMO free. Kellogg’s Kashi brand has 21 cereals Non- GMO Project verified.
At the end of 2013, Trader Joe’s took steps to clear up questions as to its position on GMO labeling, as its private label products do not carry a GMO-free mark. “Given our position on GMO ingredients in Trader Joe’s label products, and the work done in sup- port of that position, it is our expectation our products test as non-GMO.” states its public relations department. “
Whole Foods Market has taken a more proactive stance on the GMO issue, which may bode well for Northern Arizonans. New Frontiers Marketplace recently announced the sale of 4 of its 5 stores to Whole Foods Market. The sale includes stores in Flagstaff, Prescott, and Sedona. A mixture of reac- tions from locals can be found in Facebook posts and heard in coffee shop conversations. In March 2013 Whole Foods announced: “by 2018, every product in our US and Canadian stores will be labeled to indicate whether they include GMOs ... Whole Foods Market is com- mitted to full transparency when it comes to Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).”
With sights on Vermont’s progress, local activists have been collecting signatures to put GMO labeling on Arizona’s ballot. GMO- Free Prescott and GMO Free Verde Valley have been leading the charge, and are con- fident in the discerning Arizona voter this November.
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6 • MAY 2014 • the NOISE arts & news • thenoise.us