Statement from JLI On USDA’s Proposed Rule for Nationwide Disclosures of GMO Foods

For Immediate Release

May 3, 2018

Statement from JLI On USDA’s Proposed Rule for Nationwide Disclosures of GMO Foods

WASHINGTON – Today the U.S. Department of Agriculture released a proposed rule to implement the mandatory GMO disclosure law passed in 2016. Below is a statement from Gary Hirshberg, chairman of the Just Label It campaign.

It will take more than symbols and sugar-coating food labels to gain the consumers’ trust. While we’re glad the process is finally moving forward, we’re deeply disappointed that today’s draft rule does not clearly require that all genetically engineered ingredients are disclosed. Nor does the draft rule address the needs of consumers who don’t have expensive phones or live in rural places with poor cell service. Consumers and Congress expected much more when Congress passed a national GMO disclosure law in 2016. Just Label It will rally our supporters to ensure that USDA requires disclosure of all genetically engineered ingredients and that all consumers will have the ability to know what is in their food, regardless of where they live. This is not what Congress intended when Congress preempted Vermont’s law in 2016.