History of
Our Food Label
Our well known and very recognizable Nutrition Facts label has been around for over 20 years. In 1990 it was passed into law that required every packaged food to bear a nutrition label. The first law of its kind made manufactures put an ingredient list, serving sizes, and any health claims this product might make. This is also when they started standardizing some of the terminology that was becoming widely used to try and sell products such as “low fat” and “light”. It wasn’t until 2003 that the label saw any significant change, this is when the FDA made is mandatory food labels included trans-fat content. This was a huge step in helping the public make heart-healthy choices.
Getting GMO’s on the Label
The fight to get GE (genetically engineered) foods labeled is a long ongoing battle between the producers and the public. There is a very large following for the people fighting to get laws passed to make it mandatory. There are over 20 states that have a labeling laws introduced in their own governments. The main argument behind this movement is The Right to Know. Should it be mandatory for producers to label their product as having a GE product in it? Many countries across the globe feel that is it. The European Union is one of the strongest proponents for the labeling of GE products. They boast some of the strongest labeling laws. Some countries have to have on the label any product in the manufacturing process that has GMO’s in it, even if the final product does not have GMO’s. There are some countries that outlawed growing GE crops for fear they would cross pollinate with natural plants and crops. The people that are fighting against the labeling movement argue that anyone that wants to stay away from GMO's can just do their own research and find the foods that they can eat.
Genetically Engineered Food Labeling Map
Click on the link below for a world map of labeling laws.
http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/ge-map/
What States Are Doing
There are many states that are very proactive in the fight to get labels on GE products. Vermont is the latest success story in the fight. They recently passed a bill requiring the labeling of GE foods. The Center for Food Safety has been on the frontlines of this fight for over a decade and this is there first successful law. Both Connecticut and Main have passed similar laws but those law won’t go into effect until neighboring states pass similar laws. The Center for Food Safety has provided legal expertise to a number of states trying to pass laws for labeling GMO’s. There are 34 states this year that have introduced labeling bills.
Our well known and very recognizable Nutrition Facts label has been around for over 20 years. In 1990 it was passed into law that required every packaged food to bear a nutrition label. The first law of its kind made manufactures put an ingredient list, serving sizes, and any health claims this product might make. This is also when they started standardizing some of the terminology that was becoming widely used to try and sell products such as “low fat” and “light”. It wasn’t until 2003 that the label saw any significant change, this is when the FDA made is mandatory food labels included trans-fat content. This was a huge step in helping the public make heart-healthy choices.
Getting GMO’s on the Label
The fight to get GE (genetically engineered) foods labeled is a long ongoing battle between the producers and the public. There is a very large following for the people fighting to get laws passed to make it mandatory. There are over 20 states that have a labeling laws introduced in their own governments. The main argument behind this movement is The Right to Know. Should it be mandatory for producers to label their product as having a GE product in it? Many countries across the globe feel that is it. The European Union is one of the strongest proponents for the labeling of GE products. They boast some of the strongest labeling laws. Some countries have to have on the label any product in the manufacturing process that has GMO’s in it, even if the final product does not have GMO’s. There are some countries that outlawed growing GE crops for fear they would cross pollinate with natural plants and crops. The people that are fighting against the labeling movement argue that anyone that wants to stay away from GMO's can just do their own research and find the foods that they can eat.
Genetically Engineered Food Labeling Map
Click on the link below for a world map of labeling laws.
http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/ge-map/
What States Are Doing
There are many states that are very proactive in the fight to get labels on GE products. Vermont is the latest success story in the fight. They recently passed a bill requiring the labeling of GE foods. The Center for Food Safety has been on the frontlines of this fight for over a decade and this is there first successful law. Both Connecticut and Main have passed similar laws but those law won’t go into effect until neighboring states pass similar laws. The Center for Food Safety has provided legal expertise to a number of states trying to pass laws for labeling GMO’s. There are 34 states this year that have introduced labeling bills.
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