Just Label It and Farm Aid Partner to Promote Mandatory Labeling of Genetically Engineered (GE) Food

Washington, D.C. (Sept. 17, 2012) –  Just Label It is partnering with Farm Aid to promote mandatory federal labeling of genetically engineered (GE) food as one of the key actions at Farm Aid’s annual benefit concert in Hershey, Pennsylvania on Sat., Sept. 22.

“Labeling GE foods is about the rights of both the farmers who grow our crops and all the American families who sit at the dinner table,” said David Bancroft, director, Just Label It. “Farmers should have the right to purchase, plant and save non-GE seeds, and to grow their crops without fear of GE contamination. We are proud to be working with Farm Aid to fight this lack of regulation of GE crops keeping us all in the dark.”

In the HOMEGROWN Village area of Farm Aid 2012, a music and food festival celebrating family farmers, concertgoers will be able to sign Just Label It’s petition urging the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to mandate labeling of GE foods. Already, more than 1.2 million Americans have signed the petition, the largest number on a food petition in FDA history. Momentum on the issue is gaining nationwide, with more and more Americans telling Washington that they want to know about our food.

“Farm Aid wants eaters to know everything about their food–where it comes from, who grows it and what is in it. Just Label It is an important step towards transparency in our food system that benefits eaters and farmers alike,” said Carolyn Mugar, Executive Director, Farm Aid.

For information about the Farm Aid concert’s GE foods labeling action, visit the “Take Action” page on the Farm Aid website www.farmaid.org, or the Just Label It website at www.justlabel.it.org.

About Farm Aid

Each year, Farm Aid board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews headline a Farm Aid concert to bring together a wide variety of musicians, farmers and fans for one mission: keeping family farmers on their land. Farm Aid is the longest running benefit concert series in America, raising more than $40 million to help family farmers thrive all over the country while inspiring millions of people to learn about the Good Food Movement.

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