USDA’s proposed happy face “BE” (bioengineered) labels would serve more as a marketing tool for the GE/pesticide industry than an actual right-to-know label.
Consumers have a right to know what’s in our food and how it’s grown. Tell the agency it must do better.
To: USDA
From: [Your Name]
Re: Docket No. AMS-TM-17-0050
As a consumer, I have the right to know what’s in my food and how it’s grown — including whether food has been produced using genetic engineering (GE). The currently proposed “BE” labeling is misleading and unacceptable. The law requires USDA to produce a “neutral” label, and this proposal most certainly does not meet that standard.
I urge USDA to adopt a labeling system which:
Does not use “QR codes.” As USDA’s own 2017 study indicates, the proposed use of QR codes would discriminate against more than 100 million Americans who lack access to these technologies, including many in rural communities as well as low-income, minority, and elderly populations.
Uses common, well-established labeling terms, such as GE or GMO. The term “bioengineered,” and the entirely unfamiliar acronym “BE,” is misleading and confusing.
Includes all foods with GE ingredients: The vast majority of GE foods are not whole foods, but processed foods, made with GE commodity crops such as corn and soy, which are engineered to tolerate herbicide applications.
USDA must also ensure that future GE food products are labeled, and should not postpone implementation until 2022, as is currently proposed. Many companies are already labeling; this delay is unnecessary and unacceptable.
Thank you for considering these comments.
Sign petition here: http://www.panna.org/take-action/tell-usda-we-need-real-ge-labeling
Why? What the hell is the USDA going to do other than find a new way to lie about it?
They’re in the pocket of Big Food and they’ll gladly see you poisoned to death if it puts another dollar in their bribe envelope.
Zackly……
Yeah, I don’t trust them, but I still think we have to push for labeling with independent random testing. Pipe-dream? Maybe. But I rather still keep demanding accountability that just sit back and take it.
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