SEND VALENTINES TO CONGRESS!
NATIONAL WEEK OF ACTION TO STOP THE DARK ACT
DEMAND MANDATORY GMO LABELING
WHEN: February 9-13
Representative Mike Pompeo (R-Kansas) is expected to reintroduce federal legislation written by the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) and Big Food that would OUTLAW mandatory GMO labeling at the Federal and State levels and allow for the continued inclusion of GMOs in products labeled as “natural”, essentially Denying Americans the Right to Know
Please join GMO Free NJ with our national partners at Just Label It, Center for Food Safety and Citizens For GMO Labeling for this very important national week of action.
1) Please contact your federal Senators and Representative during this week of action.
2) Find your legislators: https://www.opencongress.org/people/zipcodelookup
3) Template Script: “Hello. I need to know what is in the food I buy and feed my family. That is why I support the mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods. Unfortunately, some Members of Congress want to keep me in the dark by preempting state labeling laws and preventing the FDA from ever requiring labeling. That is why I urge you to oppose the “DARK Act,” an industry-backed bill to block GMO labeling introduced last year by Representatives Mike Pompeo and G.K. Butterfield. Instead, I urge you to support mandatory labeling legislation introduced by Representative Peter DeFazio and Senator Barbara Boxer that would give all consumers the right to know what is in their food.”
4) TWEET IT OUT!
Sample tweets:
· Tell Congress to reject @RepMikePompeo’s DARK Act because you have a #RightToKnow about #GMO #StoptheDARKAct
· Demand Congress support your #RightToKnow by rejecting @RepMikePompeo’s DARK Act! #StoptheDARKAct
· Tell Congress to stand with @SenatorBoxer & @RepPeterDeFazio and support mandatory labeling for #GMOs!
· .@RepMikePompeo’s DARK Act would stop states from labeling #GMOs! Tell Congress to reject this bill and support labeling #StoptheDARKAct
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More about the DARK Act:
Last year, Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-KS) introduced a deceptively titled bill,“The Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act.” This bill, dubbed the “Denying Americans the Right-to-Know” (DARK) Act, would simultaneously prevent mandatory federal labeling and deny states the right to enact their own labeling legislation. Additionally it would create a pathway to allow for the continued inclusion of GMOs in products labeled as “natural.”
Mandatory labeling: In 2012, Rep. Peter DeFazio and Sen. Barbara Boxer introduced the Genetically Engineered Food Right-to-Know Act (H.R. 1699/S. 809) to make GMO food labeling mandatory across the country. Supported by 63 Representatives and 17 Senators, this common sense bill directs the Food and Drug Administration to use its authority to enact a federal, mandatory GMO labeling policy that would guarantee all Americans the right to know what is in their foods.
State preemption and voluntary labeling: Last year, Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-KS) introduced a competing bill, deceptively entitled “The Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act.” This bill, dubbed the “Denying Americans the Right-to-Know” (DARK) Act, would simultaneously prevent mandatory federal labeling and deny states the right to enact their own labeling legislation. Additionally it would create a pathway to allow for the continued inclusion of GMOs in products labeled as “natural.”