Senate Bill Filed Today Uses New Tricks to Keep Consumers in the DARK

For Immediate Release
March 14, 2016

Senate Bill Filed Today Uses New Tricks to Keep Consumers in the DARK

WASHINGTON– A new version of the so-called Deny Americans the Right to Know, or DARK, Act filed today would block laws of states from requiring mandatory GMO labeling, and instead make a new voluntary system. On products that choose to carry it, consumers would have to call a 1-800 number or use another high-tech gimmick to find out if a food contains genetically engineered ingredients, or GMOs.

Gary Hirshberg, chairman of Just Label It and Stonyfield Farm said:

This latest version of the DARK Act is yet another creative way to keep consumers from getting the information they are demanding about how their food was grown and produced. Nine out of ten American consumers want to know if their food contains GMO ingredients, but Big Food and their allies in Congress refuse to trust American shoppers to make their own decisions about what they buy, eat, and feed their families.

Whether it’s a high tech gimmick or calling a phone number, these attempts by Congress to imaginatively deny Americans information about GMO ingredients putting the burden on the consumer should be rejected.

It’s time to stop the DARK Act and either allow state laws to go into effect, or pass a national, mandatory GMO labeling solution that is simple and easy to find on a package.

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Contact: press@justlabelit.org