Legislative Updates: In Brief
The end of the legislative session is always lively. While things are changing by the minute, here’s a snapshot of where things stand with the public interest bills on the eve of the session’s close.
Consumer Protection
Where Do Your Legislators Stand?
It was just over 2 months ago that the Vermont Right to Know GMOs Coalition launched its campaign to label genetically engineered foods sold in Vermont. With the extraordinary grassroots support of thousands of Vermonters like you, and thousands of other cheerleaders around the country, we set out on what we knew would be difficult …
H.722 Passes out of Committee
On April 20th the House Agriculture Committee voted 9-1 in favor of labeling of genetically engineered foods sold in Vermont. The vote came after the Committee had heard nearly a month’s worth of testimony, including the April 12th public hearing when hundreds of the bill’s supporters packed the House chamber. The more than one hundred …
Hundreds Gather in Support of Vermont GMO Right to Know Rally and Hearing
A great account of the April 12th public hearing by Farm Aid’s Joel Morton. Farm Aid was on hand last Thursday evening at the statehouse in Montpelier where hundreds of Vermonters from all four corners of the state gathered to rally and publicly testify in support of bill H722, which would require clear labeling of …
Hundreds Gather in Support of Vermont GMO Right to Know Rally and Hearing Read More »
Vermonters Fill State House in Support of GMO Labeling
The Vermont State House was filled to capacity Thursday night for the public hearing on H.722, the bill that would label genetically engineered foods in Vermont. People came from all corners of New England, and unanimously called the members of the House Agriculture Committee to pass H.722. In all, legislators heard testimony from one hundred …
Vermonters Fill State House in Support of GMO Labeling Read More »
Unnatural Buffet at State House Raises Questions About GMO Labeling
The Vermont Right to Know GMOs coalition held an “Unlabeled and Unnatural Buffet” at the Vermont State House today. The problem: right now, without a law requiring GMOs to be labeled, we just don’t know.
GMO Right to Know
As Vermonters, we tend to take a special interest in our food. We want to know who grew it, what’s in it, and how far it traveled before it landed on our plate. That’s why at VPIRG, we think it’s essential that consumers be informed if the food they are buying is the product of genetic engineering (also known as “genetically modified organisms” or GMOs). As part of the Vermont Right to Know GMOs campaign VPIRG is working with a coalition of consumer, public health, agricultural and environmental groups to require the labeling of genetically engineered foods sold in Vermont.
GMO Labeling Bill Still Alive
Thanks to the steadfast action of the GMO Right to Know Coalition and VPIRG members across the state and beyond, the Agriculture Committee has been given more time to consider The VT Right to Know Genetically Modified Food Act (H.722), and testimony will resume in the statehouse on Wednesday, March 20th. Due to your support, …
Bill requiring labeling of genetically engineered food saved from procedural death
Proponents of labeling also cite GMOs’ environmental effects. Gary Hirshberg, chairman of organic yogurt producer Stonyfield Farms, said that crops with a gene for resistance to a widely used herbicide, glyphosate (sold under the trade name Roundup), have resulted in herbicide-resistant “superweeds” on over 13 million acres of farmland in 26 states. This leads, he said, to greater use of stronger defoliants like 2,4-D.
Vermont Looks to Become First State in the Nation to Require Labeling of Genetically Engineered Foods
The Vermont Right to Know GMOs coalition launched its campaign today in support of the Vermont Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act (H.722). This bill would make Vermont the first state in the nation to require the labeling of genetically engineered foods.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Kate Webb of Shelburne, would address consumer concerns by requiring food sold at retail outlets in Vermont to be labeled if it is genetically engineered, or partially produced with genetic engineering.