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.