Safeway rejects GMO labeling proposal

“Shareholders at Safeway have rejected a proposal from the Green Century Equity Fund calling for mandatory GMO labeling on its store brands, which company bosses claim would cost $15m+ to implement, while providing zero consumer benefits.

The GCEF notes that Safeway is “working to position itself competitively among consumers interested in all-natural and organic products” and that it “risks losing market share among this target demographic” if it fails to take the initiative on the GMO labeling issue.” (more…)

GMO Food Labeling Ballot Initiative in Colorado

“A proposal to require the labeling of genetically modified food qualified for Colorado’s November ballot, the secretary of state’s office announced Wednesday.

Backers of the measure, Proposition 105, submitted nearly 40,000 more valid signatures than the required 86,105.

The placement of the measure on the ballot could bring a huge wave of corporate spending, as was seen last fall in Washington state last year. (more…)

EMAC Co-authors CAST report

The most recent CAST Issue Paper, “The Potential Impacts of Mandatory Labeling for Genetically Engineered Food in the United States,” explores the issues surrounding mandatory labeling of GE foods. EMAC Director Nicholas Kalaitzandonakes co-authored the paper along with Alison Van Eenennaam from the University of California-Davis, Bruce M. Chasey from the University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign and Thomas P. Redick, Global Environmental Ethics Counsel, LLC .

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British government allows field trials of nutrient-enriched crops

“Genetically-modified food which boosts health could be on British dining tables by the end of the decade after the Government gave the green light for the first field trial of nutrient enriched crops.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs today granted permission for Rothamsted Research to grow plants enhanced with the same omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil, in a decision branded a ‘milestone’ by scientists.”