Thursday night, the Senate voted, 63-30, to approve a bill that would require that food and beverage companies disclose their GMO ingredients.
But here’s the catch. They won’t have to reveal that information directly on the package. Instead, they can opt to place a QR Code (a type of barcode) on their packaging that consumers must scan with their smart phones in order to learn if GMO ingredients are included.
Small companies won’t even have to use a QR Code. They would be allowed to place a phone number or a web address on the packaging, where consumers could get GMO ingredient information.
If a similar bill is passed in the House, and signed by the President, the measure could preempt stronger state legislation like Vermont’s GMO labeling bill, which went into effect July 1.
GMO labeling advocates are upset that this bill has passed, and rightfully so. If the food and beverage industries are really willing to reveal the inclusion of GMO ingredients, why make that information so difficult to access? Food/drink packaging already has an ingredient label and nutrition facts panel. How simple would it be to mandate that all food packaging add a few words or a universal symbol to communicate the inclusion of GMO ingredients?
Source: www.forbes.com