It sounds ominmous, right? The Dark Act sounds like a horror movie, which isn’t far from the truth. You might well ask what the big issue really is? Let me be clear: the huge issue is simply OUR RIGHT TO KNOW!
The Dark Act stands for: Deny Americans the right-to-know Act. This anti-GMO labeling bill has passed in the House of Representatives, and it going to the senate soon. It would:
- Preempt states from requiring labeling of GMO food.
- Virtually eliminate FDA’s ability to craft a national GMO labeling system.
- Codify the current, broken voluntary labeling system.
- Create a GMO “safety” review system based on industry science.
- Allow “natural” foods to contain GMO ingredients.
The issue of GMO’s being safe for you and the environment is one thing, but having our food honestly labeled is quite another. Did you know that in 64 other Nations, GMO labeling on food packages in mandatory. Proposition 37 is a November ballot measure, which was voted down in 2014 due to big agribusiness having the stronghold and dollars to quash it – their argument is that it would effect the economy if companies had to label their food in this way. However, look at the other countries – it hasn’t affected the food economy in the U.K. at all. Honest labeling simply gives consumers a choice. A large percentage of people don’t care and rarely read a label anyway, and those who do care have their right to know honored.
I read labels carefully. I want to know the nutritional content of every food I purchase because as Holistic Nutritionist, it’s very important to me to determine whether the ingredients fit my criteria for optimum health. I choose to try not to eat genetically modified food because I try to make the healthiest choices for me and my family, and because I can’t know that GMO’s are safe for humans, I’m not willing to take the risk.
If you feel the same way as I do, you might want to join Gwyneth Paltrow in telling Obama and the Senate that we have the right to know.
