US GM labelling rule quashed

A US proposal that would have given individual states a mandate to set whether food manufacturers should have to communicate information about genetically modified organisms (GMOs) directly to consumers has been quashed by the Senate. Senator for Vermont Bernie Sanders put forward the farm bill amendment, which would have explicitly authorised state governments to force manufacturers to clearly label their products with respect to GMO material. The Senate voted 26 to 73 against the amendment, which was supported by a large group of organisations including: the Union of Concerned Scientists, the National Farmers Union and Friends of the Earth.

Food manufacturers in the US already have to label their products with respect to 3000 ingredients, ranging from high fructose corn syrup to trans fats, Sanders argued. Meanwhile, GMO labelling is required in 49 other countries around the world.