The Campaign to Label Genetically Engineered Foods (www.thecampaign.org)
has been working since 1999 to past federal legislation to require
the mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods in the United
States. We strongly support Oregon Ballot Measure 27!
According to a June 13-17, 2001 survey from ABC News,
93 percent of those polled said the federal government should require
labels on food saying whether it has been genetically modified.
ABC News stated "Such near-unanimity in public opinion is rare."
While legislation to require the mandatory labeling
of genetically engineered foods nationwide was introduced into both
the 106th and the current 107th U.S. Congress, it has not received
the priority attention needed to pass into law.
In the European Union, Australia, Japan, China and
many other nations, the controversy over genetically engineered
foods has received significant media coverage. As a result, mandatory
labeling laws have been enacted in all those countries. Yet in the
United States, we still don't have this right.
The food industry does not want labels on genetically
engineered foods because they are concerned people will start asking
questions such as "Have these foods ever been safety tested
for human consumption?" The answer to that question is "NO!"
The FDA decided that genetically engineered foods are "substantially
equivalent" to non-genetically engineered foods and need no
additional safety testing or labeling. Currently the biotech companies
do not even need to notify the FDA that they are bringing a new
product to market. The very corporations that have a financial interest
in selling the products get to decide whether they are safe or not.
Oregon voters are smart and have often shown leadership
in important areas of public concern before the rest of the country.
Oregon citizens now have another opportunity to show leadership
in the area of labeling genetically engineered foods.
Tell big business that you want the right to know
if your foods have been genetically engineered. Vote YES on Measure
27!
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