- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

Senator: GMO Labeling Law in US Denies Consumers 'Right to Know'

© Sputnik / Kava Rostamkhani / Go to the mediabankMarch Against Monsanto, a protest against GMO. Monsanto is one of the world's major producer of genetically modified food
March Against Monsanto, a protest against GMO. Monsanto is one of the world's major producer of genetically modified food - Sputnik International
Subscribe
Consumers in the United States are put at a disadvantage by the GMO labeling bill passed by the US Senate, US Senator Jon Tester told Sputnik.

WASHINGTON, (Sputnik) — Consumers in the United States are put at a disadvantage by the genetically modified organism (GMO) labeling bill passed by the US Senate and pending approval in the House of Representatives, US Senator Jon Tester told Sputnik on Wednesday.

"I think it is a denial of the consumer’s right to know," Tester said of the GMO law, which he voted against.

Under the legislation, the US federal government would establish national standards on labeling genetically modified foods. The labeling standards will give food manufacturers options to indirectly label GMO products using a QR code or toll free number.

A building is viewed on the campus of Monsanto Headquarters on May 23, 2016 in St. Louis, Missouri - Sputnik International
Senator: GMO Labeling Law in US Written 'By and For' Monsanto

However, the bill’s narrow definition of genetically modified or bioengineered crops may allow a major portion of GMO products already on the market not to carry a label, according to watchdog groups. Products containing genetically modified meat will also be exempted, if meat is not the primary ingredient.

Tester, who worked as a farmer in the state of Montana before he was elected to the Senate, has argued that consumers should be able to make decisions based on knowledge of whether their food was developed in a laboratory.

The senator noted that the current GMO labeling bill short-changes US consumers.

Moreover, if the House of Representatives passes the bill when it comes up for a vote later this week, it will "override" current and possibly future state laws requiring tough GMO labeling standards, Tester added.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала