The Price of Politics and Your Food

The Price of Politics and Your Food 

This summer’s political climate is getting pretty steamy.   The media has kept us on our toes with no shortage of drama with the Presidential battle, FBI investigations and much more.  However, a battle has been brewing that will affect every single one of you and your choice of what you feed you and your family.

I’ve written about the dangers of GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) foods many times in the past.  GMOs are crops that are genetically engineered to give new or different traits.   A big victory was celebrated by Vermont who just recently passed a Right to Know GMO labeling bill.  It requires that GMO food must be identified on a food label.  Why not, right?  Shouldn’t we have the right to know what’s in our food?

It turns out that the federal government is taking a second shot at its version of a food labeling bill to “protect” all consumers in the US, and not just those in Vermont

(the first failed bill known by its opponents as the DARK Act-Deny Americans the Right to Know).  The latest bill was just introduced on June 23, 2016 by Senators Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.). It claims to be a compromise bill that would create a mandatory, national labeling standard for GMO foods. Really?  It would also BAN state GMO label laws–making Vermont’s new law unenforceable.

The new GMO bill’s version of “mandatory” really means voluntary compliance with ZERO consequences if it does not!  Furthermore, those food companies who choose to comply plan to use a QR Code that will then tell you if it is GMO or not.  I can see where the letters, GMO will take up more space than a QR code.  Gee, that also sounds  pretty transparent and easy…  So, is this bill really protect us consumers or the big Agri-business that seems to line the pockets of our elected officials.

It is also very curious that they just introduced the bill 14 days ago and they are voting on it TODAY.  Please  let your Senator know how you feel.  It literally takes 2 minutes.  Simply call 866-772-3843 and you will be directed to your Senator’s office.

Remember, unlike most issues in the news right now, this important issue will affect you and your family at least 3 times a day and every day despite it not being very public and in the media.  In fact, I’ve barely seen any mention of this bill that seems to be sneaking through at a high speed pace so rarely found on the senate floor these days.

Maybe I’ll make my own statement of transparency and ease and send in my taxes by creating my own QR Code for the government to click on…Good luck with that.

Don’t forget to call 866-772-3843 to protect your right to know what’s in your food.