Originally published August 4 2015
Texas introduces bill to mandate GMO labeling
by Julie Wilson staff writer
(NaturalNews) Despite a major setback last month when the U.S. House of Representatives voted 275-150 to pass legislation that would prohibit states from enacting the labeling of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), the Right to Know movement continues to gain traction as it lays its eyes upon the Lone Star State.
(If you missed our coverage exposing the state representatives who voted to keep you and your family in the dark about GMOs, click here).
Introduced in late March by Texas State Representative Carol Alvarado of Houston (D-Texas), HB 3499 requires foods containing GMOs to be accurately labeled in Texas, as such ingredients have been linked to a multitude of health problems including cancer, infertility, autism, attention deficit disorder, food allergies and many more.
"Don't Mess with Texas' Food"
As the old saying goes: "Everything is bigger in Texas," and the GMO-labeling movement is no exception.
Passing GMO-labeling in Texas, a sizable state known for its stable economy, would surely have a strong and lasting impact on Big Food and chemical companies like Monsanto and DuPont.
There is a tremendous amount of support for GMO-labeling in Texas, particularly in trendy cities like Austin, Texas where you can hardly travel a mile before encountering a farm-to-table restaurant, organic farmer's market, natural foods grocery store or all-natural cafe.
Austin is likely the second largest hotspot of organic food next to California, making it a little surprising that GMO-labeling legislation is just now surfacing in the area.
Leading with the slogan "Don't Mess with Texas' Food," the bill aims to give consumers exactly what they want: clear and accurate labeling of foods genetically engineered to withstand high doses of Monsanto's toxic herbicide Roundup.
Roundup's primary ingredient glyphosate was recently declared "probably carcinogenic to humans" by the World Health Organization, validating concerns that have been raised by so many activists over the years, including Natural News's own Health Ranger, Mike Adams.
Take Action in Texas
Farm and Ranch Freedom has provided instructions on how to support GMO-labeling in Texas:
Call the Capitol Switchboard at 512-463-4630 or go to www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us to find out who your State Representative is.
When you call, identify yourself as a constituent and ask to speak to the staffer who handles food issues. Be brief and polite. You can pull some talking points from our fact sheet, but don't try to cover all of it – focus on why this issue is important to you.
How you can get involved now: Spread the word by sharing this article and other information related to HB3499 and by "liking" Right To Know Texas and Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance on Facebook.
Make sure to use the hashtag #TexasRightToKnow and #FarmAndRanchFreedom.
The Right to Know about GMOs
Several states have tried to pass similar legislation, and while some states have been successful, others have been near misses, as was the case in California, Washington, Colorado and Oregon.
Paving the way in 2014, Vermont was the first state to pass GMO-labeling, aiming to implement the legislation by July 1, 2016 pending the outcome of a lawsuit in which the state is being sued by Grocery Manufactures Association of America, the processed food industry's largest supporter.
Maine and Connecticut also passed a similar measure that will go into effect once surrounding states do the same. Here you can view a map of 2015 GMO labeling bills.
More than 70 bills seeking to mandate the labeling of GMOs have been proposed in at least 30 states, with some of the most recent being in Florida, Montana, Arizona, Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota, Illinois, Tennessee, Indiana, New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts.
While it's unfortunate the House passed the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015, also termed the DARK Act (Denying Americans the Right to Know) by consumer activists, which prohibits states from enacting their own GMO-labeling laws, the bill would still need to be approved by the Senate.
According to govtrack.us, the bill only has a 30 percent chance of being enacted. We can reduce the chance of this bill being passed by spreading awareness about the dangers of GMOs and the importance of getting them labeled so consumers can make their own choice about these controversial foods.
Sources:
http://farmandranchfreedom.org
http://farmandranchfreedom.org
http://www.facebook.com
https://www.facebook.com
https://www.congress.gov
https://www.govtrack.us
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