(Millions Against Monsanto/Flickr)
Dec 20, 2012
The fight for mandatory labeling of GMO's in California may have suffered a difficult blow in California this November, but the fight goes on across the country, particularly this week in New Mexico, where one senator just filed an amendment that would require the labeling of all genetically engineered food and feed in the state.
"The premise of this amendment is simple - New Mexicans deserve the right to know what's in the food they are eating and feeding to their families," said NM State Senator Peter Wirth. "Labeling GE foods and feed will empower consumers with basic information to help them decide for themselves the types of food they want to buy."
Wirth (D-Santa Fe-25) pre-filed a proposed amendment (SB 18) to the New Mexico Food Act which would mandate GMO labeling. The amendment was drafted with help from the consumer advocacy group Food & Water Watch.
"Giving foods with GE ingredients a label will only improve and expand independent health and scientific knowledge about genetic engineering," said Food & Water Watch's New Mexico Organizer Eleanor Bravo. "We need the research of genetic engineering to be expanded beyond the companies who own the seeds and stand to profit and labeling will allow this to happen."
In the amendment, a food or feed product containing GE material that is not labeled would be considered "misbranding" and treated as a branding violation.
SB 18 will be taken up by the legislature at the start of the new session on January 15, 2013.
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. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Jacob Chamberlain
Jacob Chamberlain is a former staff writer for Common Dreams. His website is www.jacobpchamberlain.com.
The fight for mandatory labeling of GMO's in California may have suffered a difficult blow in California this November, but the fight goes on across the country, particularly this week in New Mexico, where one senator just filed an amendment that would require the labeling of all genetically engineered food and feed in the state.
"The premise of this amendment is simple - New Mexicans deserve the right to know what's in the food they are eating and feeding to their families," said NM State Senator Peter Wirth. "Labeling GE foods and feed will empower consumers with basic information to help them decide for themselves the types of food they want to buy."
Wirth (D-Santa Fe-25) pre-filed a proposed amendment (SB 18) to the New Mexico Food Act which would mandate GMO labeling. The amendment was drafted with help from the consumer advocacy group Food & Water Watch.
"Giving foods with GE ingredients a label will only improve and expand independent health and scientific knowledge about genetic engineering," said Food & Water Watch's New Mexico Organizer Eleanor Bravo. "We need the research of genetic engineering to be expanded beyond the companies who own the seeds and stand to profit and labeling will allow this to happen."
In the amendment, a food or feed product containing GE material that is not labeled would be considered "misbranding" and treated as a branding violation.
SB 18 will be taken up by the legislature at the start of the new session on January 15, 2013.
Jacob Chamberlain
Jacob Chamberlain is a former staff writer for Common Dreams. His website is www.jacobpchamberlain.com.
The fight for mandatory labeling of GMO's in California may have suffered a difficult blow in California this November, but the fight goes on across the country, particularly this week in New Mexico, where one senator just filed an amendment that would require the labeling of all genetically engineered food and feed in the state.
"The premise of this amendment is simple - New Mexicans deserve the right to know what's in the food they are eating and feeding to their families," said NM State Senator Peter Wirth. "Labeling GE foods and feed will empower consumers with basic information to help them decide for themselves the types of food they want to buy."
Wirth (D-Santa Fe-25) pre-filed a proposed amendment (SB 18) to the New Mexico Food Act which would mandate GMO labeling. The amendment was drafted with help from the consumer advocacy group Food & Water Watch.
"Giving foods with GE ingredients a label will only improve and expand independent health and scientific knowledge about genetic engineering," said Food & Water Watch's New Mexico Organizer Eleanor Bravo. "We need the research of genetic engineering to be expanded beyond the companies who own the seeds and stand to profit and labeling will allow this to happen."
In the amendment, a food or feed product containing GE material that is not labeled would be considered "misbranding" and treated as a branding violation.
SB 18 will be taken up by the legislature at the start of the new session on January 15, 2013.
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.