argylesock says… Here in Europe, foods containing GM ingredients are allowed on grocery shelves, under strict labelling laws. GM products are imported as livestock feed, and the products from those animals don’t get classed as GM. So it’s not a simple story as Gene Watch UK explains. But we might see more GM here if the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership goes ahead without major change. I fear that our European governments might face legal action. The kind of legal action that’s now happening in Vermont. {sarcasm} How dare grocers presume to inform us, the customers, what’s in our food?
Defying repeated threats of a lawsuit from Monsanto and the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), on May 8, Peter Shumlin, Governor of Vermont, signed a historic bill requiring food manufacturers to label genetically engineered (GE) foods, and to drop the practice of labeling GE foods as “natural” or “all natural.”
On May 9, true to its word, the GMA confirmed that it will sue Vermont in federal court to overturn H. 112.
Vermont is prepared to fight back. The state has already established a “food fight” legal defense fund. Legal analysts say Vermont will likely win.
This is a huge issue if the treaty goes through. Virtually all processed food, in the US contains GMO ingredients. It has been said that 90% of our food comes from corn and soy fields in the Midwest, which isn’t much of an exaggeration, if you say that 90% of out food contains soy and corm, most of which is GMO. you would be quite accurate. In a way, the fact that Europe took it’s time approving GMO crops has diminished the impact of labeling laws on your side of the pond, because they simply aren’t in that many foods.
HFCS is everywhere here. So much so, that a label on products that they contain only cane sugar almost makes them health food to some people. Monsanto has said that labeling laws essentially would be like placing a skull and crossbones on all of our food. My guess is only until the consumer realizes how expensive the alternative would be. And frankly, although I eat relatively little processed food, and avoid GMO as much as possible, I know that I’m not 100% effective. I have switched to only using Olive oil, in part because GMO free Corn or Canola oil is much more expensive.