Texas State Representative Carol Alvarado has filed a bill to require the labeling of foods containing genetically engineered ingredients.   If passed, this bill would mean Texans would finally know which foods in the grocery stores have genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Just filing this bill in a state with massive agribusiness and biotech industries is a major step!  But there is a very, very long road between filing the bill and getting it passed.

Will you help us fight for your right to know what’s in your food?

TAKE ACTION

1.     Call your State Representative and urge him or her to co-author HB 3499.

Call the Capitol Switchboard at 512-463-4630 or go to www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us  to find out who your State Representative is.

When you call, identify yourself as a constituent and ask to speak to the staffer who handles food issues.  Be brief and polite.  You can pull some talking points from our fact sheet, but don’t try to cover all of it – focus on why this issue is important to you.

Ask for their email address, and follow up by sending them our fact sheet.

2.    Spread the word:

*  Share this email with your friends and family

*   Get the news out on social media.  Follow our facebook page, www.Facebook.com/FarmAndRanchFreedom, and use the hashtag  #TexasRightToKnow and #FarmAndRanchFreedom

3.  Donate to support our work

Learn more about GMOs on our Frequently Asked Questions page

GMOs, or “genetically modified organisms,” are produced in laboratories. Unlike traditional plant hybridization and animal breeding, which try to develop better varieties by selecting traits from the same species, genetic engineering techniques insert specific genes from any plant, animal or microorganism into the DNA of a different species to create new organizations that could not occur in nature.

GMOs are widespread in our food system. The majority of corn, soybeans, canola, cotton and sugar beets grown in this country are GMO. GMO ingredients are found in over 80% of all processed foods in the U.S. and can be difficult for a consumer to identify.

There have been no independent long-term studies on the human health effects of GMOs.  Because the majority of GMO crops are designed to allow the application of toxic herbicides during the growing season, there are serious environmental and human health concerns.  And the patents on GMO seeds create significant food sovereignty and food security issues.

The bottom line is that many consumers want to avoid GMOs for a wide range of issues.   Labeling is necessary to allow the free market to function properly and allow people to make informed decisions.

You can also visit Texas Right to Know for more news about efforts to label GMOs in Texas