“DARK” ACT WOULD REALLY KEEP CONSUMERS IN THE DARK

By: Lee Ann Rush

A bill that would prevent individual states from requiring that foods containing genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) be labeled as such has been introduced to the House of Representatives and may come up for a vote in the near future. This proposed legislation, known derisively as the Deny Americans the Right-to-Know (DARK) Act, would give the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services the sole authority to mandate the labeling of GMO-containing products, while also setting specific standards for labels making any claims about whether or not a product contains GMOs. If passed, this law would not only overturn existing state GMO-labeling laws in Vermont, Connecticut and Maine and preclude other states from passing similar legislation, it would also hamper attempts by the FDA to pass federal food-labeling legislation and ensure that consumers are kept in the dark about what is really in the food they are eating.

Critics of the DARK Act claim that it is both a total affront to American consumers and an attack on state sovereignty. Environmental activists and food purists alike are decrying the bill, as are ordinary citizens who simply want the right to know what is in their food. According to Ronnie Cummins, the director of the Organic Consumers Association, “Understanding that they are losing the battle at the state level to keep consumers in the dark about whether or not their food is genetically engineered, Monsanto and its minions are now prepared to abolish consumer choice and overturn states’ Constitutional rights so that they can continue to force-feed us their GMO food.” Indeed. As the DARK Act is approaching a vote, 64 countries around the world have already enacted laws requiring GMO labeling, and surveys have shown that more than 90 percent of consumers believe that foods made with GMOs should be clearly labeled. “Supporters of this bill are trying to keep … basic information from their constituents,” observed Scott Faber of the Environmental Working Group.

Who are the supporters of the DARK Act? Well, aside from Monsanto, the bill was orchestrated by the Grocery Manufacturers Association – the trade group that represents major food conglomerates and processors who happen to also be the purveyors of genetically engineered products, a/k/a Frankenfoods. House Republicans who support the bill claim that it will provide for “voluntary” GMO-free labeling similar to the common “USDA organic” label. Thus, this proposed legislation designed to make it impossible to know what is in the food we eat is being pitched to the public under the guise of protecting Americans from “inconsistent state laws [that] would be confusing and costly for consumers,” according to Republican Rep. Mike Pompeo of Kansas, who introduced the DARK Act in the House of Representatives on March 25. In truth, the bill is a blatant attempt to keep individual states from following the will of the citizenry and setting their own food labeling statues. It’s “Monsanto’s dream bill,” according to Wenonah Hauter, the executive director of Food & Water Watch, a food safety watchdog group.

DARK Act critics, including many food safety groups, have begun circulating petitions with an eye toward blocking this legislation. Gary Hirshberg, chairman of the consumer group Just Label It, summed up the current situation as follows: “Mandatory labeling gives consumers choices. [The DARK Act] is really diabolical and it’s really deceptive. It’s made to look like the sponsors support transparency but really prevents it. This is really about selling pesticides and herbicides.” The battle is far from over; stay tuned.