So anyone follow the GMO labeling initiative.
 

So there was a grass roots initiative to require all food manufacturers to label GMO foods. GMO is genetically modified. A lot of crap we eat today is GMO, we just don't know it. Well those that are following the issue do know it. That't not the point though. The point is that Initiative I-522 was introduced in Washington. A grass roots organization ANH was at the forefront to educate people on GMO and help get it passed, requiring GMO foods to actually have a label stating this crap was created in a lab. Well it did not pass. SAD FACE. But, because of this process, some big companies spend some serious bank to fight it.

Steven Colbert on the topic. This dude is just too funny.
Washington State's GMO Labeling Initiative - The Colbert Report - 2013-06-11 - Video Clip | Comedy Central

This is the ANH Article, I described the issue above, so click this if you want to follow the other supporting links.
Washington

And the Juicy Stuff. Look how much Grocery Manufacturers Association and Monsanto dropped to fight this off.
contributions

And here is a list of specific people and businesses that also faught this bill. It is interesting to see that the companies you trust the most, are the ones that don't want you to know what you eat. Kellog, Pepsi, Hershey, General Mills. Clorox, WTF?
contributions

What puts a smile on my face that the people that supported this law being passed, are getting outspent 2 to 1 by the huge manufacturers. And, this is causing their donations to be made public, so that we can all take a look who really hates letting us know what we eat.

I'm sorry...what exactly is the problem with genetically modified?

Evolution is a process of continuous genetic modification...famers choosing corn that yields the best crops year after year is genetic modification.

So what is the gripe? or is this just "it scares me and I don't understand all of it, so lets label it all bad'?

I believe we need to be careful with GMOs, but just saying 'anything that is GMO is bad' is frankly ignorant.

:iagree:

Personally I think people need to get off the "All genetically modified foods are bad" bandwagon. Obviously there needs to be some due diligence on what modifications are being done, and the potential health hazards they be linked to...

Whether it's a grape designed to be seedless, or a tomato thats been modified to last a week longer without going bad -- Genetically modified foods not only maximize the efficiency of food production, but can potentially cut costs/waste as well....In this day and age, why would that NOT be worth looking into?

I don't think all GMOs are bad, but they need to be labelled as such and thoroughly tested for safety, as they are required to be in the European Union.

Of course, our farm lobby won't allow that and will lobby against that in the same way they they insist that corn ethanol in fuel is a good idea.

So some foods are labelled, then what? How do people reasonably evaluate the risk of eating broccoli (a genetic modification itself) vs tomatoes with mosquito DNA? It is an unworkable regulation, IMO, largely symbolic and of limited real value. It is also being fought at the state level. Why would state-specific labelling be a good idea? If it is necessary, then it should be a federal regulation.

Pretty big stretch to link GMO labelling with an ethanol lobby, but I will fully agree with you that gasoline that has ethanol should be labelled as such. I am not too concerned about whether that ethanol is GMO or not, personally.

People should be given the choice whether to buy genetially modified food. The risk evaluation is up to the individual, but companies should let people know that the content may be genetically modified.

Kind of like the fast food menuboard labelling for kcal consumption. People should be given the information whether a menu item has 300kcal versus 875 kcal, and allowed to make the decision for themselves.

Yes, but a calorie count is a straightforward thing. Consumers can judge whether 500 calories are better or worse than 800 calories, depending on their own situation. Consumers are generally not able to evaluate the types of GE modifications that may be included in any one product. And in the absence of that evaluation, GMO labelling is just playing on fears.

If you go to the EU, which you referenced, and see what happened there, it illustrates the problem. The regulations are very complicated. Exclusions include meat, milk, eggs, flavours, additives, and menu items in restaurants that do not have full menus, like cafeterias. Lots of foods have additives in them, and those get to be labelled non-GMO, just like GMO foods where the GMO content is below a certain percent. Do you think this is all leading to ease of decision making for consumers? Or is it a bureaucratic nightmare?

I should qualify that I moved from the EU several years ago. Maybe they fixed all this since I left. But I doubt it.

We already have food safety regulations. They could be used to test GMO foods without creating a separate GMO testing and labelling regime.

More useful labelling could include whether something is organic (really, not just called organic), and how far the product had been shipped, IMO.

I'm not going to argue the pros and cons of GMO issue I'm not an expert. The real problem IMO is that mankind is always screwing around with something without the knowledge of what the long term outcome will be by the time results are known people are dead. Also corporations are known as profit based entities that don't really care about the health of consumers so they could care less about weather their expanded profit margins cost lives or not. Now add the government to the mix and what you have is a lot of imperfect people making decisions without informing the public. Is this the right way to handle and distribute the worlds food supply? I'll let you answer that, but lack of transparency, and accurate information given to the public about the pros and cons (and there are pros and cons) of GMO seems questionable IMO.

PBS - harvest of fear: viewpoints: is genetically modified food safe to eat?

Another important read. PBS - harvest of fear: should we grow gm crops?

I am not here to argue if they are bad or not. I have a nutrition label, which has ingredients on it. I wan't to know if said ingredient, was screwed with.

We have all been eating all sorts of crap for years. I doubt a label will change much.

Is it really a problem to put it on the damn label telling me that I am about to eat, something that nature hasn't created? Seriously, those that don't give a shit, great. If I come to your house, and you offer me a nice looking burger, I am not going to refuse it. But at home, what I feed my kids, I want to be sure they eat what nature created. Not some lab that makes the food last longer, looks better, and tastes similar.

We are all in agreement that America is one of the most obese, cancer stricken, diabetes prone nations in the world right?

Obesity and Overweight for Professionals: Data and Statistics: Adult Obesity - DNPAO - CDC

It can't be the food.

People in Africa rather die, than get GMO food.

GM crops in Africa: Better dead than GM-fed? | The Economist

Yea, we certainly know whats up with GMO. Every other country in the world are just dumbasses who don't know shit.

Many Countries Ban GMOs and/or Require GE Food Labels | RealNatural

Genetic food will save us from world hunger?
GMO Foods: Key Points In The Genetically Modified Debate

The above are just first or second link out of google. I mean seriously google it yourself. It is not like its a damn secret.

Why is a label stating if the product is GMO, why the hell is that a secret? I just don't get it. I understand there is a debate about it, but other countries have these labels, like Europe for example, why the hell can't I?

With this mindset, why the hell are there labels on our food anyway? Why do you care about the 10 calories?

I, personally am fed up with not knowing what goes in my body. It is a sad state that huge ass companies don't want me to know, and are willing to spend huge sums of money to keep it that way. The question is why. Why is this even a debate? Phase out the labels, put a little star next to the ingredient that is GMO and move on. I agree it isn't all bad, but why can't I make the choice? This isn't a debate of good GMO or bad, this is for me to have a choice. Just like you choose to fill up your car with Shell, while I don't give a shit as long as it's premium.

I raise the bullshit flag on every company that dropped millions to fight this bill. I hope they get their shit pushed in all because of a label. Like these pricks.

Attorney General sues grocery association, alleging campaign-finance violations | Politics Northwest | Seattle Times

Oh and if you actually google some shit. Google where flouride comes from. You know the shit in our water and toothpaste. I only even decided to look at this one because my daughter is brushing her teeth now. So while standing there looking at this sesame street tooth paste, I see this fooking warning label that says call poison control if swallowed while brushing. WTF? WTF?

Fluoride Action Network | 10 Facts About Fluoride

This is a crest label, but same shit. WTF?
Google Image Result for http://www.truthradio.tv/sodium-flouride-warning-label-crest-toothpaste.jpg