After Monsanto threatened to sue the entire state of Vermont, state lawmakers have put a food labeling bill on hold.
The bill, H.722 Vermont Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act, would require manufacturers to label products that are created either partially or in full from a genetically modified organism, or GMO.
It comes as no surprise that Monsanto has threatened to sue if lawmakers pass legislation that regulates food labeling so that consumers know which products are made from genetically modified crops.
The ever-litigious Monsanto Corporation is no fan of the proposal because it means their products could no longer be labeled as naturally grown or made, all natural or just natural.
Monsanto’s track record of suing over its GMO seeds is well known. Monsanto also prevailed over Vermont in 1994 when Vermont tried to keep dairy corporations from marketing milk made from cows injected with bovine growth hormone.
But that is no reason to back off from doing the right thing and the right thing is to let consumers know what is in their food so that they can make informed decisions about what they put in their bodies. It’s that simple.
And, while lawmakers may have legitimate concerns about timing and logistical concerns about how a labeling bill might impact Vermont producers whose ingredients may contain genetically modified foods, that is no reason to permanently table the legislation.
Those are the type of details that can be worked out over the conference table. To have this important legislation shelved because of Monsanto’s bullying is wrong.
Vermont lawmakers can generally be counted on not to shy away from the controversial and the unpopular.
Let’s hope they find their spines on this issue.
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We do have a
right to know
After Monsanto threatened to sue the entire state
of Vermont, state lawmakers have put a food labeling
bill on hold.
The bill, H.722 Vermont Right to Know Genetically
Engineered Food Act, would require manufacturers
to label products that are created either partially or
in full from a genetically modified organism, or GMO.
It comes as no surprise that Monsanto has threatened
to sue if lawmakers pass legislation that regulates
food labeling so that consumers know which
products are made from genetically modified crops.
The ever-litigious Monsanto Corporation is no fan of
the proposal because it means their products could
no longer be labeled as naturally grown or made, all
natural or just natural.
Monsanto’s track record of suing over its GMO seeds
is well known. Monsanto also prevailed over Vermont
in 1994 when Vermont tried to keep dairy corporations
from marketing milk made from cows injected
with bovine growth hormone.
But that is no reason to back off from doing the right
thing and the right thing is to let consumers know
what is in their food so that they can make informed
decisions about what they put in their bodies. It’s that
simple.
And, while lawmakers may have legitimate concerns
about timing and logistical concerns about how a labeling
bill might impact Vermont producers whose
ingredients may contain genetically modified foods,
that is no reason to permanently table the legislation.
Those are the type of details that can be worked
out over the conference table. To have this important
legislation shelved because of Monsanto’s bullying is
wrong.
Vermont lawmakers can generally be counted on
not to shy away from the controversial and the unpopular.
Let’s hope they find their spines on this issue.
–LAL
