- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
- Friday, November 5, 1999
FOR MORE INFORMATION
CONTACT:
Joseph Mendelson,
Center for Food Safety, 202/547-9359
Richard Caplan,
U.S. PIRG, 202/546-9707 x 329
Bob Roth,
The Natural Law Party, 202/251-7014
U.S. LAWMAKERS CALL
ON FDA TO LABEL
GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOOD
Washington, D.C. – Members
of Congress today called on the Food and Drug Administration
to require labeling of genetically engineered food, declaring
the issue an important food safety and consumer protection matter.
In a letter
sent to the FDA today,
Rep. David Bonior (D-MI) and a bipartisan group of more than
47 representatives called the current FDA policy of not requiring
labels for these foods flawed. The signers conclude that existing
law requires the FDA to provide thorough information to consumers.
"American consumers have
the right to know what is in the food they eat, and that is the
intent of the law already on the books," said Mark Silbergeld
of Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports Magazine.
The letter
to FDA comes before FDA
public hearings to gauge consumer concern about genetically engineered
food. The hearings are set for Chicago on Nov. 18, Washington,
D.C., on Nov. 30, and Oakland, Calif., on Dec. 13. The letter
also reaches the Clinton Administration as it readies for the
World Trade Organization meeting in Seattle beginning Nov. 29,
where international trade disputes over genetically engineered
food will be a centerpiece of negotiations.
Congress had been encouraged
to take action by a diverse alliance, including religious organizations,
farm groups, consumer groups, and environmentalists. "We
stand united in our call on the FDA to immediately institute
labeling of genetically engineered foods," said Richard
Caplan, environmental advocate for the U.S. Public Interest Research
Group.
Organizations that sent letters
to Congress supporting Bonior's action include: Adrian Dominican
Sisters o American Corn Growers Association o Catholic Healthcare
West o Center for Food Safety o Citizens for Health o Consumers
Choice Council o Consumers Union o Friends of the Earth o Institute
for Agriculture and Trade Policy o Mothers and Others for a Livable
Planet o National Family Farm Coalition o The Natural Law Party
o Organic Consumers Association o Sierra Club o Union of Concerned
Scientists o U.S. PIRG o Women's Cancer Research Center
In July, the Natural Law Party
delivered more than 500,000 signatures on a petition to Congress
and the president calling for GE foods to be labeled as such.
"We are grateful for Rep. Bonior's leadership in addressing
this issue," said Laura Ticciati of the Natural Law Party.
"Poll after poll clearly shows that the American public
wants genetically engineered foods labeled."
FDA is already facing a lawsuit
challenging its failure to require pre-market safety testing,
labeling and full environmental review. The suit was filed by
the Alliance for Bio-Integrity, Center for Food Safety, scientists,
and members of major religious organizations. Joseph Mendelson,
legal director of Center for Food Safety and lead attorney on
the case, stated, "Today's letter acknowledges that Congress
intended the federal labeling requirements to apply to situations
like genetically engineered foods. The FDA can't turn a blind
eye to action in Congress and the courts."
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