With the US Senate set to vote on a bill establishing a national voluntary labeling standard for foods containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs), opponents are racing to gather support and introduce their own legislation.
Earlier this month, the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee passed legislation that would preempt any state law requiring the labeling of products containing GMOs and establish a national voluntary labeling standard. After this vote, Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-OR, and others introduced alternative legislation they say will ensure consumers can find GMO ingredient labeling on food packaging without burdening food manufacturers with confusing or conflicting labeling requirements as a result of state-by-state laws.