JLI Reacts to GMO Labeling Deal in Senate

WASHINGTON– The following is a statement from Gary Hirshberg, chairman of Just Label It and Stonyfield Farm, in response to the deal on federal GMO labeling legislation announced today by the leaders of the Senate Agriculture Committee:

American consumers should have the right to know what’s in our food and how it’s grown — just like consumers in 64 other nations. While we are pleased this proposal will finally create a national, mandatory GMO disclosure system, protects organic labels, and will cover more food than Vermont’s groundbreaking GMO labeling law, we are disappointed that the proposal will require many consumers to rely on smart-phones to learn basic information about their food. Now, the fight will shift to the marketplace and to USDA. This proposal falls short of what consumers rightly expect — a simple at-a-glance disclosure on the package.