Deirdre Cummings
Legislative Director, MASSPIRG
617-747-4319
[email protected]
Petition Containing Nearly 40,000 Signatures and Messages of Support for GMO Food Labeling Delivered to Speaker DeLeo
Media Contacts
Boston, MA – Today, a coalition of consumer, community, farming and public health organizations working to pass a GMO food labeling law hand delivered 38,292 supportive messages and petition signatures to House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo (D-Winthrop) calling for passage of legislation that would require the labeling of foods containing genetically engineered ingredients, known as GMOs.
H. 3996, the GMO labeling bill, is currently in the House Committee on Ways & Means. The legislation has a majority of support within the Committee as well as in both the Massachusetts House of Representatives and Senate.
“Not only do a majority of lawmakers support the bill but the list includes both Democrats and Republicans, lawmakers from urban and suburban, and from Provincetown to Pittsfield,” said Deirdre Cummings, Legislative Director for MASSPIRG. “It’s time to turn that support into action and pass the bill before the session ends.”
“With the overwhelming level of support we currently have across Massachusetts for a GMO food labeling law, now is the time for the Speaker to bring up the bill for a vote,” and Martin Dagoberto, Campaign Coordinator for MA Right to Know GMOs. “This campaign has the backing of 145 legislators, 148 local farms, 150 local businesses, countless food safety, health, environmental and consumer rights activists and tens of thousands of ordinary concerned citizens who are looking to the State House to do the right thing and make GMO labeling in Massachusetts a reality. “
If passed, Massachusetts would join Connecticut, Maine and Vermont, who have all passed GMO labeling laws. These states will soon join 64 other countries that grant their citizens the right to know if they’re eating genetically engineered foods.
