Gov. Peter Shumlin issued a strong condemnation of a U.S. House vote Thursday that passed a bill that would preempt Vermont’s law requiring labeling of foods produced using genetically modified ingredients.
“Monsanto and their corporate food allies have millions of dollars to dedicate to this fight, and today’s vote shows that they are quite skilled in using those vast resources to buy votes in Congress,” Shumlin said in an email statement.
The 275 to 150 vote in the House means the Senate will now consider the bill.
Supporters argue the bill will prevent states from putting a burdensome requirement on food producers by despite the fact that genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, have not been proven to have any health effects. They also argue that a patchwork of state regulations would make it more difficult for producers to get their goods to market.
Opponents, including Rep. Peter Welch and many Democrats in the House, argue that consumers have a right to know what’s in their food.
“This is not a question about whether the science says that GMO foods cause medical issues. That’s not the issue,” Welch said on the House floor Thursday morning. “The question is whether consumers when they purchase food have a right to know what’s in it. And what … this legislation is suggesting is that regardless of what consumers want, they won’t be told.”
Sen. Patrick Leahy opposes the bill, according to a spokesman, and expressed support for the concept of GMO labeling in a statement Thursday.
"Supporters of this bill warn of a patchwork of state regulations,” he said. “The best way to avoid that is for the federal government to follow Vermont's lead and adopt a nationwide GMO labeling requirement."
Sen. Bernie Sanders has expressed support for GMO labeling requirements.
The state of Vermont is fighting for its GMO labeling law in the courts as well, defending against a lawsuit from the Grocery Manufacturers Association.
