Vermont's legislature has just passed a bill requiring all foods containing GMOs to be labeled. Governor Shumlin has stated that he will sign the bill into law. Once that happens, Vermont will become the very first US state to require GMO labeling.
From USA Today:
Vermont is expected to become the first state in the nation to require labeling of foods that contain genetically modified organisms.
On Wednesday, the state House passed a bill, 114-30, that would require the labeling by July 1, 2016. The next step is Gov. Peter Shumlin, who has said he will sign the legislation.
"Our constituents have spoken," said Rep. Carolyn Partridge, a Democrat from Windham, Vt., and House Agriculture Committee chairwoman. "They feel it's important to know what's in their food." said House Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Partridge, D-Windham.
Genetically modified organisms are plants and animals whose cells have been inserted with a gene from an unrelated species to give them specific characteristics, such as resistance to insects or increase specific nutrients. Genetically engineered plants have been in the food supply since the 1990s, and supporters of the labeling requirement have been fighting since for regulations to notify consumers of their presence.
Food manufacturers say 70% to 80% of packaged food on a typical supermarket's shelves would need to be labeled. The bill grants the Vermont Attorney General's Office the job of establishing rules surrounding the labels.
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