Monsanto Feels the Bern as Sanders Turns Focus to GMO Labeling

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SOURCEBullHorn
Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., waits while he is introduced during a town hall meeting at Nashua Community College in Nashua, N.H., Saturday, June 27, 2015. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

On Wednesday Sanders made sure that GMO labeling will become an issue on the campaign trail when he made the main focus of his Senate website a picture stating “You have a Right to Know what’s in the food you eat” followed by quotes on his support for GMO labeling in Vermont and beyond.

“All over this country, people are becoming more conscious about the food they eat and the food they serve their kids. When parents go to the store and purchase food for their children, they have a right to know what they are feeding them,” Sanders said ahead of the Senate agriculture committee’s hearing on a shocking legislation (The New Dark Act) introduced by Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) that would block Vermont and other states from requiring labels on genetically modified foods.

“The overwhelming majority of Americans favor GMO labeling. We cannot allow the interests of Monsanto and other multi-national food industry corporations to prevail. I am very proud that Vermont took the lead nationally to make sure people know what is in the food they eat. Vermont and other states must be allowed to label GMOs.”

Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders)
Vermont and other states must be allowed to label GMOs. 1.usa.gov/21qAFOA pic.twitter.com/eeCsZlytLQ

Sanders has also previously been very strong on this issue:

“Unlike people in the U.K., France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Australia, South Korea, Japan, Brazil, China, Russia, New Zealand and other countries where labels are required, Americans don’t know if the food they eat has been genetically modified. People have a right to know what they are eating…”

“I think all over this country, people want to know the quality of the food they’re eating and what they’re giving to their kids is good quality. We just don’t know all that much about genetically modified food. . .”

“Monsanto and other companies are saying states can’t do it [label GMOs]. It is a federal prerogative. My amendment said if California, Vermont, Connecticut, other states want to go forward, they should have that right.”

“An overwhelming majority of Americans favor GMO labeling but virtually all of the major biotech and food corporations in the country oppose it…The people of Vermont and the people of America have a right to know what’s in the food that they eat.”

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