American Soybean Association pushes for national labeling standard

The American Soybean Association (ASA) stressed support of a consistent, science based national food labeling act in a letter to the U.S. House of Representatives.

In the letter, ASA joins more than 370 organizations in favor of the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by Reps. Mike Pompeo (R-KS) and G.K. Butterfield (D-NC) that would ensure food labeling in the United States is uniform.

“Today interest groups across the country are pushing state-level labeling mandates that will exacerbate consumer confusion and drive up food prices. Instead of informing consumers, these state initiatives are filled with loopholes, exempting as much as two-thirds of foods,” the letter states. “The result will be higher food prices for hard working American families.”

ASA and other agricultural organizations underscore that GMOs have been an important part of the nation’s food supply for the past 20 years and that leading health and regulatory organizations, from the World Health Organization to the American Medical Association, have all concluded GMOs are safe.

“The Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act will give consumers, farmers, and small businesses certainty. The proposed legislation also would improve clarity for foods carrying a GMO-free label and provide uniform rules by creating a national certification program for foods that have been produced without bioengineering,” the groups state in the letter.

ASA strongly encourages House members to cosponsor H.R. 1599 and to support its adoption.