No vote urged on federal GMO legislation

Letter to the Editor by recent California Congressional candidate, James Hinton

Where’s the Beef? Or, rather, where’s the beef coming from?

Earlier this year, the World Trade Organization ruled that the United States was engaging in unfair trade practices by allowing country-of-origin labeling on red meat. The U.S. House of Representatives quickly moved to submit legislation to remove country-of-origin labels on these products.

Unfortunately our congressman Mike Thompson (CA District 5) was one of the supporters of this legislation. This means that, if this bill is able to pass the Senate, it is quite possible that an individual purchasing one hamburger could actually be consuming meat from seven different countries. Since the country-of-origin labels would be removed, the consumer would have no way of knowing that this is the case.

Deregulating the meat industry, particularly if the passage of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) becomes a reality, is absolutely insane.

Meanwhile Monsanto darling, Rep. Mike Pompeo (KS District 4), just introduced a new bill H.R.1599 that could soon ban all mandatory GMO labeling in the U.S. This means it would reverse the results of any efforts at the state level to label GMO’s in California.

Sadly, the bill was quickly approved by the House Agriculture Committee July 16th, which means it is one step closer to becoming a full-fledged law. What’s worse the bill is formally known as the “Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act.” To be more accurate, it should be renamed the “Super Monsanto Protection Act.”

What we are witnessing is a perfect storm gathering to eliminate the ability to make informed consumer choice regarding the food they prefer while, at the same time, continuing to flood the market with unhealthy but cheap GM food products that masquerade as safe and nutritious.

I encourage everyone to contact their Representative and ask them to vote “No” on H.R.1599. Call them directly, write a letter, or join a public demonstration. Please do not hesitate. Powerful Wall Street lobbyists and major Corporations are pushing this bill through fast.

Stop Monsanto,

James Hinton

Napa

This article first appeared at the Napa Valley Register – see Hinton’s other articles there


Also see James in:
Rising Political Candidate Takes Firm Stance Against GMOs