American grocery stores are packed with foods that contain genetically modified organisms or GMOs. These foods are from crops which DNA has been genetically altered to resist herbicides and pests and considered as safe by the food industry and federal government.
However, consumers are becoming cautious about these "scientist grown" produce and the herbicide that they commonly spray on the crops. It has led into a national debated over whether food manufacturers should label their product if it is containing GMOs.
According to Chicago Tribune, Illinois has no law that requires label on foods with GMO. However, other states are pushing forward. In Vermont, a new law was created to mandate labels - the first of its kind - which will take effect on July 1. With that law, legislators are now in hurry to pass a bill through Congress that would keep voluntary labeling. It would also prevent other states from passing their own laws.
Food manufacturing giants who are based in Chicago such as Kraft Heinz and Mondelez International (maker of Oreo) support voluntary labeling. They said that mandatory labels would mislead consumers. Also, the cost for the extra labeling and production could be passed on to consumers.
However, many consumers want to know what they are eating. "We have a right to know what we put in our bodies," said Tamara Holley, 53. "And companies should be held responsible for that."
Last year, World Health Organization's cancer research arm announced that glyphosate is a potential carcinogen. It is an herbicide that is widely used on GMO crops. Last month, FDA announced that it would start testing foods that are sold in the US for glyphosate residue.
Meanwhile, the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), together with the International Dairy Foods Association, the National Association of Manufacturers and the Snack and Food Association sued Vermont in federal court to stop the new law, as reported by Mother Jones.
They are claiming that the legislation "imposes burdensome new speech requirements" and breaches the Constitution by "regulating nationwide distribution and labeling practices that facilitate interstate commerce." However, the order to block the implementation of the GMO labeling law in 2015 was dismissed by the court. The GMA quickly filed an appealed, which is currently pending.
