Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 1599, the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015, by a bipartisan vote of 275-150. This bill provides clarity and uniformity for the labeling of food products containing genetically engineered plants or ingredients (GMO’s), helping consumers make informed choices. U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce issued the following statement:
“Today I voted to protect both American consumers and producers by creating a national labeling standard for genetically engineered foods,” Pearce said. “It is imperative that we ensure food safety standards nationwide, while also providing affordable and accessible food for all families. To have a medley of laws from one state to the next causes confusion and inconsistencies in what a label means.”
“Even worse, state labeling mandates could increase costs for a family by up to $500 per year. This burden is one that New Mexican families simply cannot afford. This bill balances the needs of consumers and producers by ensuring that labeling guidelines are dependable, affordable, accurate, and easy to understand. Families should have the power to make food choices that best fits their needs and beliefs, and today’s bill will ensure that they can make those choices with more certainty.”