The DARK Act (not Star Wars related)

I'm sure you've all heard a thing or two about GMO's.  GMO = genetically modified organism.  Let's suffice it to say that in the matter of food, this means that conventional crops have had genetic changes making them different than before - generally to make them more resistant to pests.  Whether this is safe for human consumption or not is beyond the scope here because I believe we can all agree that we deserve to know more about the food we eat.  Going to the grocery store turns American's into food detectives searching to understand what it is they are buying!  And how are we to even have a chance when the labels are not telling us what we need to know!?

And it's not just the manufacturers or producers of food that prohibit us from this understanding, but it's the government as well.  This isn't a corrupt government rant, but rather I speak from the saddened heart of a person that really does care! 

At the end of March 2015 H.R. 1599 was introduced bearing the name "Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015."  Sounds awesome...but it is not so awesome.  It was actually a re-introduction from the year prior when the bill was soon renamed by the outraged public and many industry groups that do not support it as "Deny Americans The Right to Know Act" or the DARK Act.  In short summary, some of the not so awesome highlights of the bill are:

• States are denied the right to make their own labeling laws.  Some states have passed GMO labeling laws that would not be allowed to take effect.  Don't forget, people in those states voted for those laws.
• It allows self-regulation of food producers to be the official law of the land.  If the company says it is safe for you to eat, then I guess it is right?  The FDA can review the company's own assessment and challenge it.  They can, but will they?  Can they in a 180 day time limit?
• It does not help us further clarify what "natural" on food labels actually means.  It could mean that the cow your beef came from was feed GMO food.  Hmmm...I might want to know that.
• Oh, and a company is permitted to label its product as GMO but they are not required to.  In today's climate, I'm wondering who out there is going to place "GMO" on the label?

So, maybe you have heard or you might be surprised (or not so surprised) to hear that on July 23, 2015 the House passed this bill.  Yeah, our government just decided we don't need proper food  labeling.  And it wasn't close, it passed 275-150 votes.  While this bill was most specific to GMO labeling, it can only make me think that any other proper labeling of food may not get that much support in congress as many consumers would like.

So what's next?  Well, the bill is now in committee within the Senate.  If it passes the Senate, then it will be sent to the President to become law, so there is still time to let your Senators know that you DO NOT want this bill to pass!