Sen. Andrea Stillman Joined Senate Vote for GMO Labeling

From the office of State Senator Andrea Stillman: 

State Senator Andrea L. Stillman, a democrat who represents East Lyme and Old Lyme, voted with a Senate majority to approve legislation that would require labels identifying genetically modified organisms (GMO) in food sold in Connecticut. GMOs are plants or animals that have been artificially engineered to contain genetic information from other organisms.

The cultivation of genetically engineered crops has become widespread in the United States since their introduction to the market in the 1990s. For example, plants are now engineered to be resistant to weed killers and animals are bred to resist disease or develop other traits. Most Americans consume some type of food product containing GMO ingredients every day.

“The concern I have about GMOs begins with the absence of any FDA testing or approval, and continues with the need for more and more chemicals in food production due to the resistance engineered and built into these new foods and plants,” Senator Stillman said. “There can be no good to come from an increased reliance upon pesticides and herbicides—these labels will at the very least help us realize the extent to which GMOs dominate our food supply."

Senate Bill 802 would require labels on food intended for human consumption that is entirely or partially genetically-engineered. The label would read “Produced with Genetic Engineering,” and appear in the same size and font as the ingredients on the product’s nutrition facts panel. Unpackaged raw agricultural commodities would be labeled on their retail shelf or bin.

“I appreciate the common sense exemptions built into this legislation, including food prepared in restaurants for immediate human consumption and farm products sold at a farmer’s market, roadside stand or pick-your-own farm,” Senator Stillman said. “Certain processed foods, in which there is only a trace—less than one percent—of genetically-modified components, would also be exempt.”

Senator Stillman said the bill approved today imposes similar requirements on seed or seed stock intended to produce food for human consumption; GMO seed would be required to bear a label on its holding container.

If enacted, this legislation would bring Connecticut in line with 62 sovereign nations worldwide, including the entire membership of the European Union, which have already adopted comparable measures.