It is no secret that many people are skeptical of whether foods containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) can be considered safe for human consumption. Though research is still ongoing, many have taken it upon themselves to petition their state governments for new labeling requirements. The idea is that customers should have the right to know what is in their food.
If this movement becomes widespread, it could potentially lead to a sea change in the way food companies label their products.
So far, only three states — Vermont, Connecticut and Maine — have passed laws mandating the labeling of food products containing GMOs. Of those, both Connecticut and Maine will refrain from implementing the laws until other states join them.
This may happen sooner than they think. Recent reports show that both Arizona and Rhode Island may be taking steps toward considering and passing GMO labeling laws. In the former, six members of the state legislature are preparing a bill that would require foods to be labeled if even one ingredient contains GMOs.
It’s important to track changes to state labeling laws, because firms can only maintain so many different standards for each state before they decide to adopt a unified solution. If enough states mandate GMO labels, we will likely see some companies add new labels to all of their products sold nationwide. It’s important for them to choose high-quality labels that present this information in a readable fashion, so they can ensure that customers are making informed purchases.
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