KS Corn Welcomes Sen. Roberts Bill to Standardize Food Labeling

Kansas Senator Pat Roberts introduced a bill Friday afternoon to address the growing threat of a confusing jumble of state labeling laws and called for passage of legislation that would standardize food labeling. The Kansas Corn Growers Association (KCGA) welcomed the bill and seeks quick action in the Senate.

“Kansas has shown great leadership on this issue. Senator Roberts’s bill complements Kansas Rep. Mike Pompeo’s Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act which was passed by the House in July. Decisions on food labeling should remain in the hands of the FDA, and be based on scientific evidence instead of arbitrary, activist-driven laws on the state level.

GMOs go through a rigorous federal approval process which relies on scientific evidence to prove their safety. Farmers rely on this proven technology to more sustainably protect their crops from insects, weeds and drought. Krissek said food safety and labeling decisions should be made by the scientists and qualified policymakers at the FDA, not political activists and campaigns.

“States like Vermont are quickly working to adopt mandatory state-level labeling legislation that will be costly and confusing for consumers. It is important that the Senate takes up this issue quickly to avoid a situation in which all American consumers pay a high price and gain little actual information.”

Vermont’s mandatory law requiring on-package labels of foods containing ingredients that have been genetically modified takes effect in July. Unless Congress acts swiftly, families, farmers and food companies will face confusion and higher costs. Multiple studies have shown that the associated costs with Vermont’s GMO-labeling law and a subsequent patchwork of state laws will cost American families hundreds of dollars more in groceries each year, with low-income Americans being hit the hardest.