Food companies from across the United States are joining the legalbattle in defense of a new Vermont law requiring that genetically engineered productsbe labeled on store shelves. They have also joined dozens of other companies andbusiness organizations in signing a letter to members of the USHouse Committee ofEnergy & Commerce, which, on December 10, is holding a hearing on a bill that wouldprohibit states from implementing their own labeling laws, according to the Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility.
National brands such as Clif Bar and Beanfields recently joined Vermont company Ben& Jerry’s in filing affidavits in USDistrict Court in support of Act 120, the GMO labelinglaw being defended by the Vermont Attorney General against attacks from the GroceryManufacturers Association, the Snack Food Association and others.
And in Washington, DC, the letter in advance of tomorrow’s hearing to consider the billsponsored by USRepresentative Michael Pompeo (R-KS 4th), states in part, “Thislegislation would prohibit states from instituting laws to label genetically modifiedorganisms (GMOs), even if most of their citizens say they want them. This bill wouldtake power away from states and runs contrary to the views of the public and manybusinesses, including the signers of this letter. It should not be passed.” The full textmay be found here: http://asbcouncil.org/sites/default/files/hr4432_0.pdf.
About the hearing, it is worth noting that, while the perspective of consumers whosupport labeling will be represented by the Environmental Working Group, the voice ofbusinesses that support labeling will not be represented. In fact, the only businessgroup appearing before the committee is the Snack Food Association, which is a partyto the legal challenge to Vermont’s law.
“Companies ought to be proud of the ingredients they use and happy to tell you aboutthem,” said Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Jerry Greenfield. “Since most Americanssupporting mandatory GMO labeling, it’s clear that big food companies have lost in thecourt of public opinion, and are now turning to Congress to stop states like Vermontfrom protecting consumers’ right to know what’s in their food.”
“People are increasingly interested in learning more about how their food is grown andmade, so it’s no surprise that polls show that 90 percent of U.S. consumers support thelabeling of GMO foods,” said Kevin Cleary, CEO Clif Bar & Company. “The simple truthis that GMO labeling empowers people to make informed choices for their families.”
"Without proper GMO labeling, it is becoming increasingly difficult for foodmanufacturers to determine if their ingredients are non-GMO," said Reed Glidden,Founder and President of Beanfields Snacks. "This lack of transparency is frustrating tomanufacturers like Beanfields who are meeting the growing consumer demand for non-GMO foods."
The companies are members of the American Sustainable Business Council ActionFund (ASBCAF) and Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR), twobusiness organizations that support bringing greater transparency to the food system bylabeling GMO products.
“Businesses from across the country are responding to the market demands to creategreater transparency for their products. That is why ASBCAF and national brands likeClif Bar, Beanfields and Ben & Jerry’s and others are standing strong in their support forthe Vermont’s GMO Labeling law – and in their opposition to Rep Pompeo’s bill, whichwould prohibit such laws,” said David Levine, the CEO of the American SustainableBusiness Council Action Fund.
VBSR, which represents more than 800 businesses, worked with consumer groups,companies, and farmers in Vermont to successfully pass the first in the nation, nostringsattached GMO labeling law in 2014. The organization’s members are concernedthat genetically engineered food undermines the vitality of the Vermont brand.
“People who are purchasing food for their families deserve to know how their food wasproduced,” says Andrea Cohen, Executive Director of VBSR. “State efforts to requirelabeling and more transparency in our food system is a victory for consumer rights anda step toward addressing some of the larger issues raised by the proliferation ofgenetically engineered ingredients in our food system.”
Source: VBSR 12.9.2014. Founded in 1990, VBSR is a non-profit, statewide business trade organization with a mission to advancebusiness ethics that value multiple bottom lines: economic, social, and environmental. VBSR members employ more than 13% of Vermont’s workforce and generate more than 4 billion dollars in revenueannually. We strive to help members set a high standard for protecting the natural, human and economicenvironments of the state's residents, while remaining profitable. We advance VBSR's mission througheducation, public influence and workplace quality. www.vbsr.org
The American Sustainable Business Council and the ASBC Action Fund represent a membershipnetwork of more than 200,000 businesses nationwide, and more than 325,000 entrepreneurs, executives,managers and investors. The Council www.asbcouncil.org informs policy makers, business owners andthe public about the need and opportunities for building a vibrant and sustainable economy. The ActionFund www.asbcaction.org advocates for legislative change.