Stop Passage of the “DARK Act!”
Two weeks ago Reuters reported that a Republican congressman from Kansas introduced legislation on Wednesday that would nullify efforts in multiple states to require labeling of genetically modified foods. The bill, dubbed the “Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act” was drafted by U.S. Rep. Mike Pompeo from Kansas, and is aimed at overriding bills in roughly two dozen states that would require foods made with genetically engineered crops to be labeled as such. The bill specifically prohibits any mandatory labeling of foods developed using bioengineering. Critics have dubbed it the “DARK Act.” Dark stands for Deny Americans the Right to Know.
On a recent show, Dr. Oz spoke about the recent letter sent by 10 doctors to Columbia University Medical School, where Dr. Oz has been a faculty member for 20 years, which called for his removal and why it might happen now. In the letter, his critics specifically mentioned his stance on GMOs and wanting more accurate labeling of GMO foods.
Dr. Oz said there was a bill introduced in Congress a month ago called the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act. But critics have dubbed it the DARK Act. Dark stands for Deny Americans the Right to Know. The sponsor of the bill claims that GMO foods are safe and healthy, which Dr. Oz clarified is very possible, we just don’t know for sure sometimes. But what he takes issue with is that the bill says that GMO labeling is not needed. The bill specifically makes mandatory labeling of GMOs virtually impossible.
As reported on Reuters: Backers of mandatory labeling of foods made with genetically modified crops said that the bill is a sign that the GMA and biotech seed developers fear growing consumer distrust of GMO foods. “They know that the food movement’s power is growing and that labeling is not a matter of if but when.” said Colin O’Neil, director of government affairs for the Center for Food Safety, a non-profit group that supports mandatory GMO labeling. They are afraid of state action and now they’re trying to steal away consumer choice in Congress.”
MoveOn.org, www.moveon.org, and other consumer activist sites have started petitions to block the passage of the DARK Act.