Tech | May 09, 2011 | 43 comments

California state legislature passes bill to require labels on genetically engineered salmon

source: http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/2011/05/04/assembly-health-committee-passes-bill-to-requi...

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JanforGore
Dissatisfied with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) current review of the first-ever proposed commercialization of genetically engineered (GE) salmon, late yesterday the California Assembly Health Committee approved a bill which would require that all GE fish sold in California contain clear and prominent labeling. The bill, AB 88, was introduced by Assemblymember Jared Huffman. The Center for Food Safety (CFS), a co-sponsor of the bill, applauds the Health Committee for protecting the public’s right to know how their food is produced.

“The FDA has indicated that it will not require these GE fish to be labeled once they are approved,” said Rebecca Spector, West Coast Director of the Center for Food Safety. “As such, it is incumbent on the California State legislature, starting with the Health Committee, to let the people of California make informed choices about the food they eat by requiring the labeling of GE fish sold in California.”

Public opinion clearly and consistently calls for food labeling. Recent polls indicate that 95% of the public want labeling of genetically-modified foods, and that nearly 50% of the public would not eat seafood that has been genetically engineered. Consumers sent nearly 400,000 public comments to FDA demanding the agency reject this application and require mandatory labeling of this transgenic salmon should it decide to approve it.

The Center for Food Safety recently called on the FDA to recognize the immense public outcry for mandatory labeling of untested, unapproved transgenic salmon. CFS led a broad coalition of consumer, environmental, religious and animal welfare groups, along with commercial and recreational fisheries associations and food retailers, grocers and chefs in demanding the FDA deny approval of the long-shelved AquaBounty transgenic salmon and require mandatory labeling of the fish is approved despite intense opposition. If approved the transgenic salmon would be the first genetically engineered animal intended for human consumption.

“Until FDA completes an adequate environmental and human health review of genetically engineered salmon, it is up to individual states to protect consumers and their families,” said Spector. “California has always been a leader in environmental and food safety laws, and AB 88 continues this tradition by protecting the public from a potentially harmful food technology. More importantly, it gives consumers the right to know what they are eating and gives them a choice in the marketplace.”

Read CFS’s testimony presented at the Health Committee hearing at the link.
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43 comments // California state legislature passes bill to require labels on genetically engineered salmon

  • hiltonexeter
    • -2
      hiltonexeter  

    • Most of our food is G.E. we have been eating G.E. tomatoes for decades now! And there is no special label for them. Why just Salmon? I guess the Salmon industry has not paid it's dues to the CA politicians! Or the CA politicians want to spend CA tax money on policing stuff like this. Instead of taking care of things like jobs, education, police, fire and a better economy!
      This type of legislation enacted in a time of state economic crisis just shows you how really stupid the people in the legislature really are!

    • 1 year ago
  • JanforGore
    • +1
      JanforGore  
    • hiltonexeter:

      Actually, those tomatoes were pulled off the market. And you might be confused as to what GE means? And labelling a product to inform consumers of what they are eating is about education. Your response comes off as a complete cop out.

    • 1 year ago
  • Natalie_Alford
    • 0
      Natalie_Alford  

    • The FDA has also stated that they see no need to test the fish in the areas where radioactive leaking has occured, oh and the place where all that oil was dumped.

      They do not stop companies from putting MSG in food, even though it has been PROVEN that it has direct links to Cancer.

      F.D.A.: Fucking Dumb Assholes

    • 1 year ago
  • Introspective
  • dalistuff
    • 0
      dalistuff  

    • 10q J4G. They should do the same w/ (c) republicant's. Tag those mofo's: Satan's offspring, tea baggin, Hateful, grandiose, Vile, or just bitter filthy rich people.

    • 1 year ago
  • Milieu
  • sammykatz
  • JanforGore
  • sammykatz
  • 3lan
  • ninetyseven
  • ninetyseven
    • 0
      ninetyseven  

    • "the California Assembly Health Committee approved a bill which would require that all GE fish sold in California contain clear and prominent labeling"
      guess that will create a few jobs labling....and of course a Comittee to oversee it.
      And maby a gov agency to oversee the comitte. :+)

    • 1 year ago
  • letsliveinpeace
  • totally_dilapidated
    • +2
      totally_dilapidated  

    • Cali did that?
      Excellent!

      I already out-of-the-box do not buy farmed fish
      if the fish counter doesn't say wild caught, i do not buy

      and lately?
      the selection is thin

      life on earth is getting grim folks... sorry
      that's the outcome of the Industrial Revolution + population

      I come from the '60's counter-culture
      they told the WHOLE story 40 years ago
      environmental awareness, zero population growth and more
      nobody listened
      you find pockets of retro-counter culture folks all over the place
      it's only pockets

      you people... now... and your kids
      are in for not good times
      sorry
      but THAT is reality...

    • 1 year ago
  • samantha420
  • JanforGore
  • Leen61
    • +5
      Leen61  

    • They should label genetically engineered salmon. It's no different than BGH milk. I heard these salmon are called "Franken Fish." I would never eat them.

    • 1 year ago
  • PoliticalAmazon
    • +2
      PoliticalAmazon  
    • Leen61:

      Unless you are very careful, if you eat much salmon at all, you've probably already eaten it.

      Something else to think about...if you take "fish oil" dietary supplements, they don't have to be labeled, even in California.

    • 1 year ago
  • Leen61
  • ninetyseven
  • Leen61
  • Suziqu
  • damush
    • +3
      damush  

    • Thank you cloning! Now let's continue to re-modify our natural food supply until we all become soylent canibals!

    • 1 year ago
  • ninetyseven
  • unimatrix0
    • +4
      unimatrix0  

    • Knowledge is power. Everybody deserves to decide for themselves, and make an informed decision.

      Everybody should write and complain to their Rep. - tell them to force the FDA to label all genetically modified or genetically engineered food.

      Consumers deserve more info, not less.

    • 1 year ago
  • ninetyseven
    • 0
      ninetyseven  
    • unimatrix0:

      so true matrix....a subject that is low keyed so the consumer just picks and eats...no thinking involved.
      like the Side effect of prescription drugs...after reading the lists of harmfull effects possible ...your faced with the choice....take the risk of the dangers or take the Med and dont think about it.

    • 1 year ago
  • lazloman
  • JanforGore
  • Earl_Dixon
  • TypeMemeHere
  • JanforGore
    • +2
      JanforGore  
    • TypeMemeHere:

      You're welcome. This is truly an important issue for our future and the biodiversity of our planet that doesn't get nearly enough coverage. And actually, while I am happy about this I'm waiting to see what happens now. I hope it sticks as well and other states follow suit.

    • 1 year ago
  • Incredulous
    • +2
      Incredulous  

    • good news, glad to hear it. even the researchers doing the genetic modification/engineering believe in labeling...people have a right to know what they are consuming.

    • 1 year ago
  • JanforGore
    • +8
      JanforGore  
    • Image

    • http://www.anh-usa.org/codex-to-consider-labeling-for-genetically-engineered-foo...

      Codex is also going to consider labelling for genetically modified foods.

      Excerpt:

      "Next week, committee members of Codex, the UN-sponsored would-be global regulator, will be reviewing guidelines for genetically engineered (GE) foods. The US delegation to the committee says—surprise—that no labeling is needed! An URGENT new Action Alert —the deadline to send comments is TODAY.

      The Codex Committee on Food Labeling will meet May 9–13 in Québec City, Canada, where members will review the Codex guidelines on labeling food. Among the items for review are the Codex labeling standards for genetically engineered foods.

      The Codex Alimentarius (Latin for “Food Code”) is a collection of internationally adopted food standards, guidelines, codes of practice, and other recommendations which supporters hope will become a global standard. The US is a Codex Committee member country.

      In preparation of the upcoming meeting in Canada, the US delegates held a public meeting in Washington, DC, on April 25 to discuss their draft position that they will present in Québec. ANH-USA attended that meeting—and the US position is pretty dismal. The US draft position is open for public comment only through May 2, so we are sending this newsletter out a little early.

      Of particular interest is the US position on GE labeling. Codex currently does not have any requirements for mandatory process labeling. US delegates said that there is no need for GE labeling!

      This means that the US delegation is advocating a position on GE labeling that is inconsistent with the perspective of US citizens. In a 2008 Consumers Union nationwide poll, 95 percent of respondents said they thought food from genetically engineered animals should be labeled.

      The US delegation adds that the “claimed right to know is ill-defined and variable and in this respect could not be used by Codex as the primary basis of decision-making on appropriate labeling.”
      _______________
      The US delegation is embarrassing. Their statement is illogical and makes crystal clear that they are bought and sold by the biotech /industrial ag lobby. Many of the other countries want labelling, and the majority of people in this country do as well. Yet they continue to go against all of this to tow the corporate line. So while I am happy to see California take this step, watch to see the pressure exerted to stop it. And also, while I am not a Codex fan, if they should somehow come to their senses and move forward to labelling of genetically modified foods the U.S. would be going against a global standard that in the longrun will hurt us economically. It will be interesting to see the outcome of this.

    • 1 year ago
  • Suziqu
    • +3
      Suziqu  
    • JanforGore:

      America use to be a leader now it is lagging behind the rest of the world in so many different areas because the government doesn't do what is right for the common good.
      Imagine where we could be without politics and greed?

    • 1 year ago
  • JanforGore
  • queenofit
    • +5
      queenofit  

    • FINALLY! An article about GMO that makes complete sense! I am thrilled to read this news, and send HUGE KUDO'S to the State of California, now then come on folks, we need this labeling in all states, and we need this labeling on all GMO's. Salmon is a good start, but anything GMO certainly needs to be spotlighted. Thanks for making my day brighter Jan!!

    • 1 year ago
  • JanforGore
    • +4
      JanforGore  
    • queenofit:

      I hope it stays this way. Seems everytime something positive is done regarding this something happens to reverse it. I'm keeping my fingers crossed, and sending another letter to my own state legislature this week.

    • 1 year ago
  • JanforGore
  • ptr23
  • JanforGore
  • JanforGore
  • NC54
  • artemis6
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