'Eat-In' Protesters Call Out Obama's Broken Promise to Label GMOs

(Screen-shot)

'Eat-In' Protesters Call Out Obama's Broken Promise to Label GMOs

Food justice advocates gather at FDA on Monday, decry administration's ties to biotechnology firms

Food justice advocates gathered in front of the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Food Safety on Monday to demand all genetically modified products (GMOs) be clearly labeled, and to call out the administration's ties to the biotechnology industry.

Over 100 protesters, food advocates, students, farmers, and several groups including Food Democracy Now!, Food & Water Watch and the Organic Consumers Association, joined the "Eat-in" in which a GMO-free "stone soup" was served and protesters heard from a range of speakers who called for the labeling of GMO foods and an end to the revolving door between Washington and the biotech industry, RTreports.

For instance, Michael Taylor, former Vice President of Public Policy at biotech giant and major GMO producer Monsanto, is now a Deputy Commissioner for the FDA.

"In 2008, before he was elected, President Obama promised labeling GMOs but since then, he has furthered policies that protect Monsanto and the use of genetically engineered food such as appointing Michael Taylor to the FDA. Members of the Senate as well as the House of Representatives, even Hillary Clinton, they all have ties to Monsanto," Lauren Stansbury, community organizer for occupy-monsanto.com, told VOXXI.

Last week President Obama signed what has been dubbed the "Monsanto Protection Act"--legislation that will bar US federal courts from challenging production, sale or planting of genetically engineered (GE) crops even if they failed to be approved by the U.S. government.

The law prompted the group Food Democracy Now! to launch a petition for the U.S. government to require the mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods, which has already gained over 250,000 signatures.

See footage of the protest below:

____________________________

Join Us: News for people demanding a better world


Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place.

We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference.

Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. Join with us today!

Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.