Congress slammed for move to ban mandatory GMO labels

Those at the forefront of Hawaii’s movement against genetically modified organisms reacted strongly Thursday against a U.S. House of Representatives measure to block state and local governments from requiring food companies to disclose whether their products contain GMOs.

“It shows how out of touch Congress is with the American people,” said Ashley Lukens, program director with the Hawaii Center for Food Safety. “Nine out of 10 people support labeling. This just attests to the power that the agrochemical corporations have on our democratic process.”

Agriculture interests, meanwhile, said labeling is potentially costly to both businesses and consumers and is unnecessary, backed by groups who don’t have the facts to support the claim that GMO foods are unsafe to eat.

“Labeling should be about safety and nutrition, not about fear-mongering,” said Lori Farrell of Hawaii Farmers and Ranchers United.

The bill was approved, 275-150, in the House on Thursday following hotly contested debate. Hawaii Reps. Mark Takai and Tulsi Gabbard, both Democrats, voted against it.

Gabbard spoke on the House floor during the debate, arguing the bill would not only pre-empt state and local laws that already require labeling of genetically modified food, but would create a food labeling system based solely on industry science and corporate influences.

“This legislation makes a mockery of transparency and leaves U.S. consumers in the dark,” she said.

Gabbard told her colleagues that Hawaii is one of 30 states that have made progress on GMO labeling efforts.

The state Legislature, however, again fell short of approving a labeling law this year.

GABBARD also warned that the bill could be used to overrule the rights of local communities to make any decisions that would affect GMO crops. She said it could upend Hawaii island bans on the cultivation of genetically engineered coffee and taro.

It could also threaten GMO moratoriums approved on Kauai and Maui, too, Lukens said.

“The fact that this bill is before Congress is just another sign of the never-ending assault by companies like Monsanto,” said Kauai County Councilman Gary Hooser, who has led the anti-GMO movement on the Garden Isle. “It’s very troubling when corporations have this much power in government.”

Agreeing was Mark Sheehan, spokesman for Maui’s SHAKA Movement, which overcame overwhelming industry lobbying last year to win a voter-app0roved moratorium on GMO crops.

“It’s the Monsanto takeover of our government. They’ve been working on it for a long time,” he said.

BENNETTE Misalucha, executive director of the Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, said mandatory labeling is unnecessary because scientific studies and the Food and Drug Administration consistently confirm GMO foods are safe.

Misalucha said almost all of the food eaten in Hawaii is imported, so it makes more sense for Hawaii to advocate for federal standards in food labeling.

“Our concern is that introducing a state-mandated labeling law may add to a system of inconsistent labeling standards and requirements and potentially put Hawaii farmers and food manufacturers that export their produce or value- added products at a competitive disadvantage,” she said in a statement.

“The papaya industry was near devastation several years ago until they were genetically modified to be resistant to the ringspot virus. If the papayas in Hawaii were labeled in a way that is different from fruits and vegetables grown in other states, this would create uncertainty about how differing standards could impact the financial sustainability of local farmers,” she said.