Parents have seen skyrocketing rates of health and behavioral disorders, especially in our children. We are what we eat, so parents have a serious reason to look to the food we are providing for our children when it comes to understanding their health. But how can we make meaningful choices if what is in our food isn’t even revealed?
There is a growing interest in the correlation between genetically engineered food and chronic health or behavioral conditions. Many citizen groups have been mobilizing to get their states to require companies to label foods that contain genetically engineered ingredients, so they can make an informed purchasing choice.
The US FDA’s official position on genetically engineered food is that it is no different than non-adulterated food. Many people disagree. Scientists disagree. Entire countries disagree. The science on safety of genetically engineered food is not settled (no matter what you may have heard). The federal government continually refuses to address this, so advocates for first amendment rights and consumer choice are turning to state law. The federal government cannot pass legislation that would truly inform people of an issue it refuses to acknowledge that it even exists.
State-led labeling initiatives are gaining momentum, but the threat of litigation looms large over every legislature considering labeling laws. Connecticut and Maine passed legislation, but it is considered weak and doesn’t go into effect until other states join in and do the same. Vermont would be the first state in the nation to have a GMO labeling law in effect if it survives a federal court challenge. The law passed in May 2014 and hundreds of corporations, under the umbrella of the Grocery Manufacturers Association immediately sued the state. We should know in a few weeks if the litigation will continue, stalling or prohibiting the law from going into effect, or the case will be dismissed.
Labeling initiatives are not about settled science. They are about liberty and privacy rights. You don’t have to have an opinion on GMO safety here. You have to have an opinion about the ability to make choices. The right to know is the right to choose. Isn’t that what America is all about? You can go to any grocery store or mall to see our passion for choice in every color, shape and size you could imagine, or special order.
If we do not know, we cannot choose. If we cannot choose, we have no control over what is being put into our bodies or our children’s bodies. If we have no control over our own bodies and families…what do we have?
Companies in the U.S. are protected in their right to create products with GMOs. Companies are now asserting a constitutional right to choose whether to disclose that or hide it from consumers. Is corporate citizen choice more legally sound than individual choice? Is it more worthy of government protection? Let’s see what happens in Vermont.
Pennsylvania legislators have started to consider a labeling law. For more information about the state’s initiatives, or to get involved in protecting choice, visit GMOFree PA at http://www.gmofreepa.org/. (Disclosure, author is an active volunteer with GMOFree PA)
About Valerie Borek
Valerie Borek, Esq. is a Delaware County native with a passion for empowering people. She believes a strong family is a building block to strong communities. She founded her law firm to serve families with a focus on parenting and family rights. As a mother herself, she knows that parents face tough choices and need support. Valerie is grateful to be in a profession where she can guide people through life’s circumstance so they can focus on the things in life that matter most. Valerie finds her greatest motivation in helping families strengthen their health and wealth. These two foundational areas of life resonate through the day-to-day and when we feel comfortable and secure in these spheres, we are free and enabled to create and nurture the lives we desire. Visit her at www.vboreklaw.com
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
Loading...
Comments