The Vermont GMO labeling law controversy

Less than a month ago, Vermont became the first state to pass a law dedicated to labeling food made with genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Other states, namely Maine and Connecticut, have discussed the possibility of passing a GMO labeling law, but only if surrounding states followed suit. Vermont made a bold move by passing the labeling law. By advocating for consumer’s right to know, they have opened a can of worms with The Grocery Manufacturer’s Association (GMA), which plans to file a lawsuit against the state in order to reverse the new law.

The GMA consists of primarily large food and beverage companies and has taken a definitive stance against the labeling of foods containing GMOs. Their reasoning is that the USDA organic certification includes non-GM foods. The addition of an extra label, they say, means more money out of manufacturers’ pockets. The GMA supports the availability of GM food products, and fails to see the relevance of a further informed population.

One of the most concerning consequences of GMOs is the increase in pesticide use (many GMO plants are engineered to be pesticide resistant so farmers are using much more pesticide than they do with non GMO plants). Many of the pesticides used with GMOs have been linked to cancer and/or are endocrine disruptors. Consumers need to be informed so that they can make choices for themselves and their families, and the new Vermont law makes this possible.

Protect Our Breasts is committed to the truth, especially when environmental toxins are commonalities in the products we consume every day. With more transparency in food labeling comes more freedom to choose safer products that do not contribute to diseases such as breast cancer. We must embrace the movement to provide clear and concise information so that every person has the ability to play a hand in their own health.