Tester And Daines Clash Over GMO Labeling

Montana’s Jon Tester, the US Senate’s only farmer, blasted a controversial bill that would restrict listing genetically modified ingredients on food packaging.  Tester lashed out at his Senate peers on Wednesday for crafting a federal bill that makes it difficult for consumers to know what they’re eating.  Plants with DNA altered by genes from other plants or animals are genetically modified organisms, or GMOs.

 
However, Montana farmers rallied around Republican Sen. Steve Daines, who said he sees the merit in plants modified to survive exposure to weed killers.  The bill, makes it optional for food wrappers to list genetically modified ingredients, but does require that a toll-free telephone number, or scan code be published on the label.  Tester said “Hiding basic information behind bar codes and 800 numbers is totally unacceptable. 9 out of 10 consumers say they want labeling required for GMO food, as is already done in 64 countries.”