Several Congressional bills have proposed mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods in the United States
There have been several Congressional bills proposed in recent years that aim to implement mandatory labeling of genetically engineered (GE) foods in the United States. These bills have emerged due to increasing public concern and consumer demand for transparency in food production and labeling.
1. The Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act (H.R.1599) - This bill, also referred to as the Deny Americans the Right to Know (DARK) Act by its opponents, was introduced in 2015. It proposed a voluntary labeling system for GE foods and prohibited individual states from mandating their own GMO labeling laws. The bill was passed by the House, but did not get sufficient support in the Senate.
2. The Genetically Engineered Food Right-to-Know Act (S.511) - Introduced in 2015, this bill aimed to establish a federal standard for mandatory labeling of GE foods. It required food manufacturers to clearly label products containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs). However, the bill did not pass in the Senate.
3. The Genetically Engineered Salmon Labeling Act (S.738) - Introduced in 2019, this bill specifically focused on the labeling of genetically engineered salmon. It required clear and conspicuous labeling of any salmon that is genetically engineered or contains genetically engineered salmon. The bill is currently pending in the Senate.
4. The Genetically Engineered Food Right-to-Know Act (H.R.4341) - This bill was introduced in 2019 and is similar to the earlier Senate bill (S.511). It aimed to establish a federal standard for mandatory labeling of GE foods and required clear labeling of products containing GMOs. Like its counterpart, this bill did not advance further in the House.
It is important to note that although these bills have been proposed, to date, the United States does not have a federal law requiring the mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods. However, individual states, such as Vermont, Maine, and Connecticut, have passed their own GMO labeling laws.