National GMO Labeling Bill is Important First Step

Statement

Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif) released the following statement after the Senate took a key vote to move ahead with the Roberts-Stabenow bill to label genetically-modified organisms, or GMOs:

"The public has the right to know what's in the food they buy at the grocery store. The bill the Senate voted to advance today isn't perfect, but it's the best that can be achieved in a divided Congress to set one standard for labeling GMOs. I look forward to supporting its final passage.

"Simply put, this bill is good for California because it will ensure that all food sold in stores is labeled if they contain GMOs. This includes labeling 25,000 more products than are covered by law in Vermont, one of the few states with GMO-labeling standards. California has no GMO-labeling law.

"This bill also protects the strict standards Congress created for labeling food as organic. And by creating a national standard, this bill will prevent a patchwork of different laws in different states, which would be complicated for both consumers and farmers.

"Under the bill, USDA will have the authority to design labeling options for products containing GMOs, and the public will have an opportunity to weigh in as well during multiple points in this process. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, which funds the USDA, I will work to ensure that any GMO labels are clear and easy to understand."

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