The Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act, which would create a national framework for the voluntary labeling of genetically modified foods, often called GMOs, recently passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support.
Under the bill, the U.S. Department of Agriculture would be able to certify products as “GMO-free,” and the Food and Drug Administration would create a definition of the word “natural” that products would have to adhere to.
“People who choose to buy non-GMO products will have the opportunity to have consistent labeling across all 50 states, and it will have to meet a standard,” said Republican Congressman John Moolenaar of Michigan’s 4th District. As a member of the House Agriculture Committee, Moolenaar cosponsored the legislation, House Bill 1599.
Offering the ‘GMO-free’ label instead of one that labels products that are in some way genetically altered is more practical, as foods that are modified are exceedingly common. In Moolenaar’s home state of Michigan, 92 percent of all corn is modified.
In Moolenaar’s district, there are 15,000 farm operators and their surrounding communities rely on the agricultural sector. Genetic engineering has helped reduce the reliance of pesticides and herbicides on those farms and has allowed farmers to be more productive.
“It’s very much weaved into the fabric of our agricultural sector,” Moolenaar said.
This bill, Moolenaar said, would offer consumers the choice of buying products that have been certified as GMO-free without putting an undue burden on farmers and producers who rely on genetically engineered crops. In addition, non-GMO food producers and growers will not have to deal with labeling standards varying from state to state.
“Agriculture has been a leader in technology, and certainly we benefit from having a safe food supply,” said Moolenar. “I think it’s a win-win.”