Some of America’s most prominent chefs are throwing their collective weight behind a movement pushing U.S. food companies to label products containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs). We have previously discussed on this blog efforts in certain states, including Oregon and Colorado, to require GMO labels. Now the United States Congress is weighing a federal measure that would ban any such state legislation.
Celebrity chefs like Tom Colicchio visited Capitol Hill to urge lawmakers against supporting the bill, saying that consumers deserve to know what they are putting into their bodies. However, U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley, a Republican from Iowa, argued that GMO labels should only be required if it is scientifically proven that genetically modified foods are harmful to human health, which he says has not been done.
“Labeling things GMO when we’ve had three governmental agencies one way or another weighing in on certain aspects of agriculture that what we’re doing now is safe, I’m not sure what you’ll accomplish except confusing consumers,” Grassley told reporters in a phone call.
One thing is certain: The battle over GMO labeling is far from over. While many, if not most, food manufacturers firmly agree with Sen. Grassley that such labels should not be mandatory before a scientific consensus has been reached, they nonetheless must be prepared for any sudden developments on Capitol Hill. Sever your reliance on third-party label printers and increase your business’ agility by investing in a color label printer like the Primera LX900. Don’t wait to be blindsided by an abrupt and unexpected development in Washington, D.C. Instead, empower your company to keep up with evolving labeling needs by purchasing a printer today.