Connecticut is one step closer to enacting the nation’s first ever legislation that would require companies to label foods with genetically modified organisms, as the state’s Democratic Gov. Dannel Malloy signed off on the only voter-approved GMO-labeling legislation last week.
While exciting and historic for GMO advocates, the bill signing was purely ceremonial, as the legislation that voters passed in June requires at least four other states — including at least one that borders Connecticut — to pass similar GMO-labeling legislation before it can be enacted. Meaning, New York, Massachusetts or Rhode Island, along with at least three other states, must also pass GMO-labeling legislation, as there needs to be about 20 million residents affected, before Connecticut’s GMO-labeling law can be put into effect.
Connecticut lawmakers reportedly built this clause into the legislation to protect local businesses “from being put at a competitive disadvantage.”
During the signing ceremony, Malloy called for Americans to “demand GMO labeling” legislation.
Senate President Donald E. Williams Jr., D-Brooklyn, added “Families have the right to know whether the food they purchase has been genetically modified.”
Exactly when Connecticut’s law will be enacted remains unknown, as big agriculture businesses such as Monsanto, BASF, Bayer, Dow, DuPont and Syngenta — the “Big Six” companies that control the world’s seed, pesticide and biotechnology industry — continue to spend millions persuading voters that labeling genetically engineered products is not necessary.
Specifically, big agriculture argues a labeling requirement will only increase food costs and hurt the livelihood of farmers, and have together defeated proposed legislation in several states including California, Washington state and Maine.
Although when the labeling requirements will become law remains unknown at this point, Malloy says he is proud lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle came together on this issue to pass the first GMO labeling requirement in the nation.
“The end result is a law that shows our commitment to consumers’ right to know while catalyzing other states to take similar action,” he said, before adding that this piece of legislation is the first in a movement big agriculture won’t be able to stop.
Tara Cook-Littman, director of GMO Free Connecticut, agreed and thanked advocates for all of their work, not just in the state but across the country.
According to Russia Today, legislation to either label or prohibit GMO foods has been introduced in at almost half of all U.S. states, but only Connecticut’s bill has passed. Consumers Union senior scientist Michael Hansen said this is surprising since “Surveys have always found 80 to 95 percent of people wanting labeling.”
He went on to add that “People are paying attention to food, and because of that they’re more interested in GMO issues and buying food that’s more local and food without pesticides and other added ingredients.”
According to a report from the Non-GMO project, it’s estimated that about 75 percent of grocery store products in the U.S. contain at least one genetically modified ingredient, usually corn, soy, canola or sugar. And with more and more reports finding that consumption of GMO corn and soy products can lead to liver, kidney and bone marrow damage, it’s likely increasingly more Americans will come to favor legislation that allows them to know what exactly is in their food.