Top 3 States That May Be Next to Require GMO Labeling
As Vermont’s monumental GMO labeling victory is fully realized by legislatures around the nation, it reminds us that it is within our reach to enact GMO labeling laws throughout the entirety of the 50 states. And even internationally.
In an underdog victory, Vermont was finally successful in requiring the mandatory labeling of GMOs within the state — an addition to their previously accepted GMO labeling laws that had some exceptions for manufacturers and were considered quite relaxed. This is after months and months of protest and legal battles with Monsanto, who even fought tooth and nail to repeal the original ‘relaxed’ GMO labeling law in the first place.
It was a major victory, and it reminds us of the coming states who may soon see similar legislation put into place. Here are the 3 states that may be next to require labeling of GMOs in the wake of Vermont’s precedent-setting ruling:
1. Minnesota
My personal choice for the next GMO labeling champion and an initiative that could ignite a legislation wave around the world, Minnesota is the most unlikely staging grounds for an all out legal assault on Monsanto and GMOs at large. But after the introduction of SB 335 back in April of 2014, locals went wild. The support for this bill is huge, and the Minnesota news papers can’t believe it. In a report on how citizens were protesting around the courthouse to show their support for the bill and GMO labeling at large, we see how even independent grocery stores are being pushed to start labeling:
“In the past six months, I’ve received numerous written and verbal requests to label GMO (Genetically-modified organisms) containing ingredients in our stores or discontinue a possibly GMO containing product,” said Liz McMann, consumer affairs manager at Mississippi Market in St. Paul. “My response is always the same. My hands are tied. Without mandatory labeling, it’s impossible to know if a non-organic product contains genetically modified organisms or not.”
2. Texas
As businesses move to Texas in what could be called an ‘intellectual exodus’ towards cities like Austin, there’s no question that the state could in fact be next on the list to enact GMO labeling laws that would help improve the lives of independent farmers and citizens alike. Farmers that have been fighting Monsanto’s GMOs for quite some time amid financial ruin. With HB 3499 and the support of farmers and activists alike, they may just get their wish.
Because after all, even Monsanto shareholders know that no one will buy their GMOs if they’re labeled! That’s why 96% of them admit they would vote against GMO labeling.
3. Massachusetts
In Massachusetts, Bill H.3242 has been the subject of much support and concern – support by the general public, and concern for Monsanto. Common Wealth Magazine reports:
“[in 2015], 154 of Massachusetts’s 200 legislators, including big majorities of both the Senate and the House, of Democrats and Republicans, joined together to cosponsor The Genetic Engineering Transparency Food Labeling Act. Yet, despite the support of more than 75 percent of the Legislature, the bill, H. 4156, is far from guaranteed even a vote by the Legislature. That’s a major problem for anyone who wants labeling of GMO ingredients, because despite calls for a new federal law, Congress is not coming to the rescue anytime soon.”
Now Is The Time For Labeling
With the latest news on the agricultural battlefield from Vermont, now is a better time than ever for these states to rally their bill supporters and launch them into law. Monsanto will undoubtedly attempt to infiltrate these and other states with legal threats and continuous propaganda campaigns, but ultimately the goal of GMO labeling can be accomplished: we just have to decide we are going to achieve it.
