March, 01 2016, 11:00am EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Email:,info(at)fwwatch(dot)org,Seth Gladstone -,sgladstone@fwwatch.org
Advocates Urge Senate to Reject DARK Act
 Statement of Food & Water Watch Executive Director Wenonah Hauter
WASHINGTON
"Today, the Senate Agriculture Committee approved a bill that can best be described as the Denying Americans the Right to Know (DARK) Act. The bill would prevent states from requiring labeling of genetically engineered (GMO) foods and stop pending state laws that require labeling from going into effect.
"Many committee members spoke of the need to continue negotiating about the contents of this bill. But more compromise will not fix the problem at the bill's core: blocking state laws that require GMO labeling will strip away the ability states to protect the public's right to know what is in their food. Any version of this bill that would result in anything less than mandatory on-package labeling is unacceptable.
"The vast majority of the public wants to know if the food they buy contains GMO ingredients. It's time for Congress to create a mandatory on-package labeling requirement so people can decide for themselves whether they want to eat a food that has been produced using genetic engineering. Instead, the DARK Act would strip away the power of the states to protect the public's right to know what is in their food.
"We urge all Senators to oppose this bill that will ensure that big food processing companies and the biotechnology industry continue to profit by misleading consumers. The majority of Americans support labeling for GMOs and will hold their elected officials accountable if they vote to strip away transparency about how their food is produced."
Food & Water Watch mobilizes regular people to build political power to move bold and uncompromised solutions to the most pressing food, water, and climate problems of our time. We work to protect people's health, communities, and democracy from the growing destructive power of the most powerful economic interests.
(202) 683-2500LATEST NEWS
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Levermann said the paper presented society with a clear choice:
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