10 Reasons To Oppose The Senate DARK Act

This week, the Senate Committee on Agriculture will consider a new version of the DARK Act. The House of Representatives has already passed legislation blocking your right to know what’s in your food.

Here are the top 10 reasons to oppose the Senate version of the DARK Act:

1. Americans have a right to know – Nine out of ten Americans want the right to know what’s in their food and how it’s grown – regardless of age, income or even party affiliation.

2. 64 nations have GMO labeling – Two-thirds of the world’s consumers – including citizens of Russia and China – have the right to know whether their food contains GMOs.

3. Voluntary labeling won’t work – Food companies have been able to make voluntary GMO and non-GMO claims since 2001, and consumers are more confused than ever. The Senate DARK Act would actually make it harderfor companies like Campbell’s Soup to voluntarily disclose the presence of GMOs.

4. Consumers want clear labels, not codes – Nine out of 10 consumers want GMO labels on the package, not high-tech gimmicks.

5. Food labels help correct confusion — Federal rules already require many disclosures to alleviate consumer confusion, ranging from “orange juice from concentrate” to “imitation crab.”

6. No patchwork quilt – State GMO labeling laws are virtually identical, so there will be no “patchwork” quilt of different state laws. Besides, states already require state-specific food labels for everything from “cottage foods” to butter and cheese grading.

7. GMO labels will not increase food prices – Food companies change their labels all the time. Studies show that GMO labels will not act as a warning. Even Campbell’s Soup agrees that GMO labeling will not increase food prices.

8. GMO crops increase weed killer use – The widespread adoption of GMO corn and soy has led to an explosion in the use of the weed killer glyphosate, which is linked to cancer. Thousands of schools and churchesare in the zone of crops routinely sprayed with glyphosate.

9. Farmers support gmo labeling – One-third of harvested acres are not genetically engineered but are threatened by drifting pollen from GMO crops and pesticides. No wonder the National Farmers Union and other farm groups support GMO labeling.

10.  We don’t need GMOs to feed the world – Studies show that simple changes – such as reducing food waste and using fertilizer and water more efficiently – would do much more to feed the world than GMOs. What’s more, conventional crop yields are keeping pace with GMO crop yields.

Here is the link to EWG’s List of  the Top 10 Reasons To Oppose The Senate DARK Act

*UPDATE (3/17/16)

WASHINGTON– In a major win for consumers, Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) failed to earn the votes he needed to stop debate on a bill known to opponents as the Deny Americans the Right to Know Act, or DARK Act.

According to EWG, the defeat of the DARK Act offers Congress the opportunity to find a compromise for a national mandatory GMO labeling measure that consumers and industry can support.

Scott Faber, senior vice president for government affairs, said:

Consumers have made their voices heard to their elected representatives in the Senate and they said clearly, “We want the right to know more about our food.” We are pleased that the Senate made the right decision to stop the DARK Act, and we remain hopeful that Congressional leaders can craft a national mandatory compromise that works for consumers and the food industry. We applaud Senators Debbie Stabenow, Jeff Merkley, Jon Tester, Barbara Boxer and Pat Leahy for their efforts to defeat the DARK Act.”