The DARK Act makes absolutely no sense, and here’s why.
This summer HR Bill 1599 was introduced to Congress. Dubbed the DARK
Act (Denying Americans the Right to Know) by its opponents, it was
reactionary legislation to Vermont, Connecticut and Maine’s 2014 laws
that made GMO labeling mandatory on food packaging. The DARK Act makes
absolutely no sense, and here’s why.
GMO means
Genetically Modified Organism, and in this instance, is being used to
describe agricultural products that have been genetically modified.
There is a debate over whether GMOs are good or bad for our health, but
that isn’t what this bill is about (incidentally, I don’t think there is
compelling evidence that GMOs are always good or always bad). This bill
is about the consumer’s right to know whether or not what they are
eating contains GMOs. It is a pretty reasonable request for a person to
have as much information as possible about the food they are feeding
their children so that they can make a decision based on their personal
values whether or not they want it. There is a fear from food
manufacturers that disclosing that they use GMO foods will:
A. Increase costs
B. Decrease sales.
Part B of that
fear may very well be accurate, but consumers should be entitled to know
what they are feeding their families more than companies like Monsanto
are entitled to gratuitous profits. To be clear, even if they disclose
that they are using GMOs in their food, companies will STILL make a
whole lot of money.
