Opponents of Senator Mike Crapo’s decision to vote against mandatory labeling of GMO food products are rallying outside of the Idaho Senators office on July 18th, 2012 at 4:00PM Mountain Time. They are going to be demonstrating about Mike Crapo voting against your right to know if GMO foods are labeled.
According to a letter from Crapo, ““The United States has a sophisticated regulatory framework overseeing food and drugs, and GE crops are regulated by three federal agencies. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ensures that biotechnology-derived foods meet regulatory standards for safety. The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service regulates field-testing of crops prior to commercial release of newly developed plant strains. The Environmental Protection Agency registers pesticides used in U.S. commerce. Plants enhanced to produce pesticides are considered pesticides under this definition.””
This however, is not at all accurate. In fact, as GMO Free Idaho has shown in the following statement:
“The FDA has never tested biotechnology derived foods for human safety. The FDA requires that the developer submit to the FDA, a report of the safety, nutritional and other regulatory issues that pertain to the new product. In short, the bioengineering company is responsible for its own testing and only has to consult with the FDA. There is no requirement for, nor have there ever been, any long term safety studies on GMOs. If this process satisfies the regulatory standards as Senator Crapo asserts, then the regulatory standards need to be changed!
The USDA has several different agencies that work with different aspects of genetically modified foods. None of those agencies have the task of looking at short term or long term effects of human consumption of genetically modified foods specifically. In addition, the Farm Bill now contains a rider that would prevent federal courts from halting the planting of GMO crops that have not undergone the proper environmental impact studies. We have seen courts ban crops like alfalfa and sugar beets because the proper environmental studies had not been completed.”
GMO Free Idaho is having a rally to show that Idaho citizens are concerned about GMO labeling. In fact, over 40 countries require mandatory GMO labeling. Many have an outright ban on them altogether.
A GMO Free Idaho spokesman said, “We are really concerned about Mike Crapos inability to vote based on consumer/citizen demand. Although he knows consumers want labeling laws, he is choosing to be loyal to the industry.
Join us on Wednesday, July 18th at Mike Crapos office (251 East Front St.) at 4:00 p.m. as we voice our concerns with a Rally for the Right To Know that we are consuming GMOs!”
You can get more details and RSVP to our Right to Know GMO Rally.