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. . . .Listening to a wide range of views has given me a deep respect for people’s desire to know where their food comes from and how it’s produced. . . .
That is why I believe a federal standard to establish consistent, nationwide guidelines for how companies label their products as containing GMOs would provide the kind of clarity and uniformity that American consumers deserve. This could be very similar to the USDA’s popular national organic program that exists today.
You read that correctly: Monsanto strongly supports a national approach and the right of companies to voluntarily label their products as containing GMOs using a variety of methods.
Unfortunately, the alternative to decisive federal leadership. . . is a state-by-state approach where misleading GMO labeling requirements could vary from state to state. . . With a patchwork approach, farmers and food producers may have to separate, repackage and re-label products differently for sale in each state, raising their costs at a time when American agriculture can least afford it. As states develop and implement different labeling laws, food companies could be forced to create multiple supply chains, warehousing and delivery mechanisms to comply. And, these companies would be forced to move away from a safe, economical and environmentally beneficial agricultural tool — GMOs — altogether. All of this will ultimately increase costs for consumers, hurting low-income families most.
That’s why I urge parties on both sides to find common ground and move forward on a meaningful federal solution that truly works for everyone by meeting consumers’ needs for more information, protecting farmers’ rights and preserving the use of an important agricultural tool. . . .
Read full, original post: Monsanto Supports a Federal GMO Labeling Initiative
