The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion and analysis.
- USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack has officially voiced his support for mandatory GMO labeling because he believes the Senate could realistically get the votes to pass such a proposal.
- The voluntary GMO labeling bill’s passage in the Senate Agriculture Committee has divided Senate Democrats, including those who voted in favor of the bill in the committee, such as Heidi Heitcamp (D-ND). This demonstrates the bill’s potential inability to drum up enough support across the full Senate.
- Elsewhere, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) has introduced a mandatory GMO labeling bill specifically for salmon that would require “genetically engineered” or “GE” to appear on the product label. The bill would also require a third-party review of the FDA’s decision to pronounce AquAdvantage salmon safe for human consumption.
Vilsack’s support of mandatory labeling for GMO ingredients could signal a sea change in the momentum of this GMO labeling debate. He told reporters that the government should give food companies enough time to determine the best way to label products, whether it be a toll-free number, smart label, or wording directly on the packaging.
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Murkowski collaborated with the FDA on the language to be used in her mandatory GMO labeling bill after she blocked the nomination of Dr. Richard Califf as FDA chief. She lifted that block earlier this year per the FDA’s cooperation and assistance. Murkowski is still against the FDA’s decision to approve GMO salmon in the first place, which was why she has included a third-party review of that decision in the bill.
Read full, original post: Vilsack calls for mandatory GMO labeling; GE salmon bill introduced
