HOUSE BILL: Bioengineered Food Disclosure Act (Passed - Sent to VP/PPT)

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

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Sponsor: CMB222
House Desgination: HB 1119

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

The sponsor has 24 hours to commence an advocacy for this. All other members shall have an addition 48 hours to post their initial comments and questions.

[CMB222]

This bill is very simple. It would just require food companies to put a label on their food to let the consumer know the food has been genetically modified. This is to allow the consumer to make a more educated decision on which food they ought to buy.

[OneJ]

This has my full support. Actually, I attempted to get similar legislation to pass in the South at one point, but it got slashed unfortunately.

However, I am inclined to agree with you that our customers should be able to know whether the food they are about to buy is genetically modified or not.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

This has my full support. Actually, I attempted to get similar legislation to pass in the South at one point, but it got slashed unfortunately.

What was the reason for such?

[OneJ]

This has my full support. Actually, I attempted to get similar legislation to pass in the South at one point, but it got slashed unfortunately.

What was the reason for such?

At the time, my colleagues thought it was quite unnecessary and argued that bioengineered food didn't prove to have negative effects. My main reason was to simply inform citizens what they were consuming, however.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

This has my full support. Actually, I attempted to get similar legislation to pass in the South at one point, but it got slashed unfortunately.

What was the reason for such?

At the time, my colleagues thought it was quite unnecessary and argued that bioengineered food didn't prove to have negative effects. My main reason was to simply inform citizens what they were consuming, however.

Well I would imagine that there is cost involved with such a mandate and that was weighed against the science.

Speaking of science, what is the present of state of things on the effects of such food?


And why is no one else saying anything on this? 72 hrs is long over with.

[Pessimistic Antineutrino]

My apologies for the late response. This has my full support - takes almost no effort to implement and informs the public.

[Leinad]

Apologies for being tardy to the party here...

I'm not too keen on this. From what I understand--though I am no expert--genetically modified food is completely safe, and is a scientific advancement that can go a long way towards feeding the hungry. So I'm not sure what the benefit of this is other than satisfying anti-GMO alarmists--just seems like more needless regulation.

That being said, it isn't nearly as bad as Fremont literally banning genetically modified food in schools, so, uh, credit for that I guess.

[CMB222]

Apologies for being tardy to the party here...

I'm not too keen on this. From what I understand--though I am no expert--genetically modified food is completely safe, and is a scientific advancement that can go a long way towards feeding the hungry. So I'm not sure what the benefit of this is other than satisfying anti-GMO alarmists--just seems like more needless regulation.

That being said, it isn't nearly as bad as Fremont literally banning genetically modified food in schools, so, uh, credit for that I guess.

This has nothing to do with how safe genetically modified food is. I just think that the consumer ought to know if their food is modified so they can be more educated on the food they eat. I actually got this bill idea from a real life bill which was passed and is now law in the US. You can go and find on food a form of disclosure similar to the one I suggest in this bill.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Apologies for being tardy to the party here...

I'm not too keen on this. From what I understand--though I am no expert--genetically modified food is completely safe, and is a scientific advancement that can go a long way towards feeding the hungry. So I'm not sure what the benefit of this is other than satisfying anti-GMO alarmists--just seems like more needless regulation.

That being said, it isn't nearly as bad as Fremont literally banning genetically modified food in schools, so, uh, credit for that I guess.

Can we see some of this science? In the form of articles?

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Well Leinad? CMB?


I was asking for articles making the case in either direction?

[CMB222]

Well Leinad? CMB?


I was asking for articles making the case in either direction?

Like I said, this bill isn't really about the science. I just want consumers to make an educated choice on the food they buy and apply their own beliefs to that choice.

[Leinad]

But...uh...why? If it's not at all about the science, then what are we doing? Do you really think we should force people to label things because some groups think something is bad?

Can we see some of this science? In the form of articles?

A quick Google search found this: http://www.precisionnutrition.com/are-gmos-bad-for-your-health

The article is a long one that goes into lots of detail, but here's a highlight:

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So, yeah, I think we need to be careful before we add to the arsenal of the anti-GMO alarmists.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

That being said, it isn't nearly as bad as Fremont literally banning genetically modified food in schools, so, uh, credit for that I guess.

This was repealed a long time ago, for the record.

[Clyde1998]

I'm happy with this bill. It makes it clear to the consumer what they are eating, in the same way that food is required to have the ingredients on the label.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Representative Leinad, do you have any data on the potential cost of the labeling requirement and who would bare that cost?


CMB, do you have any information you would like to present on the potential harm that GMO is causing?

Right now I am leaning towards voting no, but I am still open to being swayed by information presented.

And you guys in the peanut gallery can jump in and offer your sentiments, questions and positions as well. You are extremely late. Well past 72 hours.

Edit: Crap, forgot he is on Leave.

Does anyone else have any articles or information on the matter then.

[Clyde1998]

I can't imagine that there would be any additional cost to adding the note to the label about genetic modification. It would just take a very minor modification to existing labels.

[CMB222]

I will not say whether or not GMO's are harmful because I don't think we know enough about them at this point but I will say it is similar to providing ingredients on labels so the consumer is more informed on their food.

I am ready to move to a final vote on this.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

A final vote is now open on the underlying legislation, Representatives have 72 hours to vote.

[JGibson]

AYE

[Chief Justice Keef]

AYE.

[CMB222]

Aye

[Leinad]

Nay

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

AYE