You Have The Right to Know: The GMO Tug of War #GMO

GMOs have been either banned or strictly require labelling in over 60 countries or so. However, things seem to be heading towards a different direction in the United States where the GMO debate is intensifying with each passing day. The results of many national surveys clearly suggests that more than 90% of Americans would like to know if their food contains GM ingredients.

Despite many renowned scholars in the field coming forward to vouch that GMO’s are anything but sustainable and has the potential to destroy the planet, countries including Argentina, Brazil, Canada, India, China etc. continue to follow the GMO bandwagon with U.S leading the way. However, nations like South Africa, Peru, France etc., have taken legal action against the Monsanto Company on the question of GM food safety and ensuing health concerns. With more and more consumers demanding the right to know what they are eating and the public outrage against GM foods gaining momentum in the U.S and elsewhere, the reassessment and regulation of the safety standards of the GM foods before being introduced into the market, has become a matter of immediate concern. This in turn, translates into the need for food labelling schemes and judicious government intervention in the case of GM foods. 

Chart from the Cornucopia Institute

With "Non-GMO" or "GMO-free" foods gaining popularity, many companies have started making the much desired shift towards making their products free of GMOs. In order to cater to the rising demand for GMO free food, companies including the likes of General Mills are in the process of making GMO-free variants for their very popular brands. By 2018, Whole Foods intends to make labelling mandatory for their stores across the U.S and Canada. Also, the very popular Ben & Jerry's officially became GMO-free in 2013. Chitpotle chain of restaurants that serve Mexican food, openly disclosed the presence of GMO in their food and at the same time made a firm commitment to make their food free of GMOs as much as possible and voluntarily started labelling their products with the intention of gaining more consumer acceptance and trust.
Content by info@AlphaSMC.com

Companies like Monsanto have allegedly spent millions of dollars for lobbying against labelling of GM foods in the U.S. It is assumed that in 2013, the company made a donation of over $5 million USD in support of the anti- GMO labelling campaign in the state of Washington.

The infographic below, created by The Cornucopia Institute, outlines the  list of  corporations and organizations that are supporting and opposing I-522, which is a citizen’s initiative in Washington and might go on to become the first state to make clear labelling of genetically engineered ingredients on food packaging mandatory. Companies like Monsanto and General Mills are against GMO labelling whereas companies like Stonyfield, Annie’s, Nature’s Path etc. support the I-522 campaign. 

References:

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/02/11/monsanto-anti-gmo-labeling.aspx

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/18/us-usa-food-gmo-analysis-idUSBREA1H1G420140218

http://gmoreport.blogspot.in/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steve-ells/chipotle-gmos-no_b_4063994.html