The Farmer's Daughter USA

Hi, I'm Amanda! My family farms corn and soybeans in Southwest Michigan. I'm also a practicing attorney.

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This Is the GMO Labeling Law Farmers Want

January 17, 2018

Food products should not be labeled as “non-GMO” if there is no GMO counterpart for that product.

That was the measure approved by delegates at the annual American Farm Bureau Federation convention this month. Measures approved by the nation’s largest farming organization ranged across a series of topics important to agriculture, from crop insurance to trade to immigration. The measures taken up at the national convention start at the county level before being approved at the state level.

In 2018, the delegates decided to support a measure limiting which products can utilize the non-GMO status. Unfortunately, we see non-GMO labels on all sorts of products that have no GMO alternative. For example, Hunt’s boasts that all of its tomatoes are non-GMO, but there are no genetically modified tomatoes commercially available. By default, all tomatoes are non-GMO. The measure would prohibit Hunt’s from using the non-GMO label for its products.

Canada already has a law prohibiting the use of a non-GMO label if there are no GMO alternatives. Apparently, the law is rarely, if ever, enforced.

I’m so happy to see this resolution reach the national stage. In fact, I dedicated my first AGDAILY article to this very idea so many moons ago. Slapping a non-GMO label on every single product in the grocery store is confusing for consumers, demonizes a safe and important technology, and is extremely misleading. It needs to stop.

Seriously, when we have cat litter that boasts a non-GMO label, we have gone way too far.

Now, passage of the measure does not mean that it will become law (you know, Congress…), but it does mean the issue is gaining traction. It means that it becomes part of the AFBF platform. It means people can legitimately talk about it as a possibility. It means we could actually have clarity on labeling. It means the option is on the table.

It means we’re a little bit closer to the happy day when such a measure is actually passed.

You can find more of the measures passed at the AFBF convention on AGDAILY.

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Filed Under: Biotechnology, Labeling Tagged With: AFBF, GMO, gmos, labeling, labels

Comments

  1. Michael Conant says

    January 17, 2018 at 8:32 am

    I have to agree. The ‘non-gmo’ label is misleading if it is slapped on a product that doesn’t exist in a modified state. If a fearful consumer sees two products on the shelf, one of them labeled and another not, the label (misleading though it may be) gives an unfair advantage. I doubt that the folks behind all the labeling hoopla intended to grant an advantage to some who would mis-represent their products.

    • Carole says

      January 17, 2018 at 5:35 pm

      I doubt that companies who slap non-Gmo on their products care whether others lose a fair advantage. They think about selling, selling, selling.

  2. Jon says

    January 18, 2018 at 9:32 am

    I’ve written to Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency about this very topic…. their reply was that as the Non-GMO label was a paid, 3rd party certification, it falls more under marketing than an official declaration that the food non-GMO….. so essentially they are saying it’s merely a marketing gimmick, and therefore doesn’t run contrary to the law.

Hi, I'm Amanda. My family farms corn and soybeans in Southwest Michigan. I'm an attorney and I'm passionate about agriculture!

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thefarmersdaughterusa

I'm Amanda. My family farms corn and soybeans in Southwest Michigan. I'm an attorney by day, and "agvocate" at night.

Amanda Zaluckyj
Green soybeans as far as the eye can see. I took Green soybeans as far as the eye can see. 

I took this photo over the weekend. These beans should be turning yellow and drying for harvest. So why aren't they? Because...the spring drought.

Seeds need water to germinate. But after we planted we didn't have rain for weeks. So those seeds just sat in the dirt and never sprouted. Then, finally, it rained. And the tiny plants started popping up.

The problem? It was several weeks too late for planting. The question is whether they'll be ready to harvest before the snow flies. We have shorter seasons in Michigan, so it'll be close.
Sunsets on the #farm are the best. 😍 Sunsets on the #farm are the best. 😍
💜💜 💜💜
Don't let anyone make you feel bad about not purch Don't let anyone make you feel bad about not purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables. It all counts.

#modernagriculture #foodproduction #usfarmers #usagriculture #usfarms #food #knowyourfarmer #knowyourfood #modernag #farms #sustainableagriclture #sustainablefarming
I visited one of my favorite local farm stands ove I visited one of my favorite local farm stands over the weekend. I thought I'd buy a couple zucchini and cantaloupe. But the zucchini looked more like clubs, and the cantaloupe was too ripe for my taste. So I passed on those and bought some tomatoes that maybe cost more than I would have preferred.

But you know what I didn't do? I didn't complain about the zucchinis' size. I didn't fuss about the melons' ripeness. I didn't criticize the tomatoes' price. Instead, I smiled at the lovely lady and made small talk as I paid and went about my day. 

Why? Because I remember what it was like being out by the side of the road hot day after hot day. I know that we all poured everything we had into that produce. I remember how defeating it felt when some criticized it. I know that the price is probably around market value, even if it's cheaper in the grocery store. And I know that the farm family behind that cash register is giving everything they have to chase a dream.

I won't be the one to rain on their parade. 

#Respect
Happy #nationaldogday from Mischa! #nationaldogda Happy #nationaldogday from Mischa!

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#pittiemix 
#blacklab 
#mischa
Mischa and I are home on the farm for the weekend. Mischa and I are home on the farm for the weekend. And we're loving it.
It isn't one or the other. Farmers care about all It isn't one or the other. Farmers care about all of it.

#agriculture #farming #sustainablefarming #sustainability
I threw a birthday party for Mischa! It was over t I threw a birthday party for Mischa! It was over the top and wonderful. And she had so much fun surrounded by people that love her. 💕

Thanks to everyone who came out to celebrate my little love. 💜
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