I think everyone can agree that food labeling standards are a good thing. They solve a lot of problems for consumers by keeping food labels straightforward and holding companies accountable. A good example would be the "certified organic" program, which helps consumers identify organic products in the store without just taking a company's word for it. However, right now there are some gaps in the national food labeling system, especially with regards to GMOs, that leave room for states to set their own standards.
Although we often take it for granted, Americans trust the Food and Drug Administration to guard our food supply. H.R. 1599, the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015, will make sure the FDA retains full authority over food labeling standards. Under this act, the FDA will be authorized to test all new GMO ingredients for safety and verify that any non-GMO label claims are accurate. In short, it will fill
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I was actually just laid off Friday from the propane company, the job I took after retiring from the Kansas Department of Transportation, so this issue hits close to home for me. Many other Americans have found themselves in similar situations, unemployed and often unable to find work. We cannot afford so-called "solutions" that will raise the prices of necessities--especially food. Because ensuring compliance with different standards in different states would cost food manufacturers more, it would also cost consumers more. No company is going to just absorb the extra cost; instead, they will raise prices to cover the difference. With higher food prices, my family would have to choose cheaper foods to get by. Unfortunately, that would mean lower quality food or less variety, but we just wouldn't have the money to buy the nutritious food we