The US House of Representatives on Thursday passed legislation that prevents states from requiring labeling of foods made with genetically engineered crops.
The bill’s supporters, including its sponsor, Representative Mike Pompeo, say genetically modified foods are safe and laws around the country would be expensive.
“Precisely zero pieces of credible evidence have been presented that foods produced with biotechnology pose any risk to our health and safety,” Pompeo, a Kansas Republican. “We should not raise prices on consumers based on the wishes of a handful of activists.”
The food and agricultural industries threw their full support behind the bill, while health and environmental groups and organic food industry players fiercely lobbied against its passage.
The bill was dubbed the “Deny Americans the Right to Know,” or DARK Act, by opponents, who say people have a right to know what is in their food and criticize any law that would take away a state’s discretion to require labels.
