Would you like to be informed if foods you are buying for yourself or your pet contain genetically modified (GM) ingredients? Well, here is your opportunity for that to happen in the future. A new bill introduced by Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) will/would require foods that contain a GM material be labeled accordingly. If you want to know that you or your pet are consuming GM ingredients, tell your Representatives in Congress to support this bill.
The following summary was written by the Congressional Research Service, and provided at GovTrack.us…
“Genetically Engineered Food Right to Know Act – Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA), the Federal Meat Inspection Act, and the Poultry Products Inspection Act to deem a food misbranded if it contains or was produced with a genetically engineered material unless its labeling contains statements meeting specified requirements. Requires the periodic testing of such foods transferred along a chain of distribution to assure accuracy of labels, subject to specified exceptions. Excludes, in all three Acts, food: (1) served in restaurants; or (2) prepared primarily in a retail establishment, ready for human consumption, but not offered for sale for immediate consumption in the establishment. Excludes, for purposes of the FDCA, a medical food as defined in the Orphan Drug Act. Subjects violators to civil monetary penalties, exempting recipients who accept a guarantee of the absence of genetically engineered material in good faith or producers whose food inadvertently becomes contaminated by genetically engineered material. Authorizes citizen suits as specified.” http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-5577&tab=summary
To read the full bill, visit http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-5577
Because the definition of ‘food’ in the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act includes animal/pet food, this bill should be applicable to pet foods as well. If the bill passes, we’ll have to closely watch AAFCO and FDA for possible exemptions provided to pet food manufacturers.
In the meantime, if you support the bill (being informed of GM ingredients in food – stating such on food/pet food labels), please tell your Representatives in Congress to support and/or co-sponsor the bill. Visit www.Congress.org, under ‘Get Involved’ (right side of page) you’ll find the section ‘Find your lawmakers’. Enter your zip code for your list of elected officials. Or visit http://capwiz.com/grassrootsnetroots/issues/alert/?alertid=15178631, enter your zip code to send your message of support for the Genetically Engineered Food Right to Know Act will be sent directly to your Representatives in Congress.
Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,
Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author, Buyer Beware
Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
TruthaboutPetFood.com
PetsumerReport.com
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