Do you want to be kept in the dark about what you’re eating? Tell Congress to protect your right to know if your food contains GMOs!

While grassroots efforts to require labeling of genetically modified foods (GMOs) are gaining momentum, Big Food and the biotech companies like Monsanto are trying to block your right to know what’s in your food.

These companies are backing a federal bill, HR 4432, that would:

• Prevent states from adopting their own GMO labeling laws.
• Block any attempt by states to make it illegal for food companies to put a “natural” label on products that contain GMO ingredients.
• Prevent the FDA from requiring companies to label GMO ingredients and instead continue a failed “voluntary” labeling policy.

Healthy food advocates have dubbed this bill the Denying Americans the Right-to-Know Act or DARK Act.

A Congressional hearing on the bill is expected as early as next week! Your voice is critical and time sensitive — please take a few minutes to contact Congress today.

Voluntary Labeling is a Proven Failure

While we usually support voluntary programs over mandatory programs, when it comes to GMOs, this is the wrong approach. There has already been voluntary labeling for the last 13 years — and not one company has voluntarily labeled its products as containing GMOs.

As long as Americans don’t realize that GMOs are in their food, they’ll keep buying these companies’ products. This isn’t how the free market is supposed to work — this is essentially fraud!

DARK Act Would Destroy Grassroots Efforts

Because FDA has not listened to the public call for GMO labeling (even ignoring the opinions of its own scientists), Americans have turned to the states for a solution. Earlier this year, Vermont successfully passed a GMO labeling bill, and the vote on Oregon’s ballot initiative was so close that there is a recount underway right now.

The new federal bill would destroy these grassroots efforts and deprive states of the right to decide what is best for their own residents.

Will you help us stop HR 4432?

TAKE ACTION

Contact your U.S. Representative and urge him or her to oppose HR 4432.

You can find out who represents you by going to www.house.gov or by calling the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.

Call and ask to speak to the staffer who handles food issues. Explain that you’re a constituent and that you want the right to know whether your food contains GMOs — and that the Big Food companies have already proven that they will not do so voluntarily. You can find more talking points in our sample letter below.

A phone call is more effective than an email. If you do send an email, please be sure to personalize the first few sentences so that it’s not just a form message!

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SAMPLE LETTER

Subject: Oppose HR 4432

I urge you to oppose HR 4432, which would block the mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods, introduced by Representative Pompeo.

The bill does nothing useful — there is no need for Congress to adopt voluntary labeling, since companies have had that option ever since GMOs were introduced in our food supply. What the bill really does is deny states the right to pass meaningful mandatory GMO food labeling bills.

The free market can only work when consumers have the information they need to make informed choices among different products. It is absurd to claim that voluntary labeling addresses the issue. In the 13 years that FDA has allowed companies to voluntarily label genetically engineered foods, not one single company has done so. Without mandatory labeling, consumers are effectively being defrauded.

We need change, but this is not it. I expect Congress to support my right to know about the food I purchase and feed my family, not undermine it.

Please oppose HR 4432.

Instead, I would urge you to support the Boxer-DeFazio bill to label GMO food (the Genetically Engineered Food Right-to-Know Act) because it responsibly balances the needs of both consumers and companies with an effective national, mandatory GMO labeling plan.

Sincerely,
[Name]
[Address]