Vermont Becomes First State To Require GMO Labeling
On Thursday, May 8th, Vermont became the first state in the country to pass a bill mandating the proper labeling of genetically modified foods. The law, signed into effect by Governor Peter Shumlin, will require all GMO foods that are available for retail to labeled as such by a July 16th deadline, reports CNN.
"More than 60 countries have already restricted or labeled these foods, and now one state — Vermont — will also ensure that we know what's in the food we buy and serve our families," said Gov. Shumlin.
So far, the law has faced opposition from trade groups like the national Grocery Manufacturers Association, which called the move "legally suspect," and from the Biotechnology Industry Organization, which cautioned that the requirement may raise food prices by $400 a year for the average family.
Shumlin and Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell are poised for resistance to the legislation, and Sorrell promised "a vigorous and zealous defense of the law."
Karen Lo is an associate editor at The Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter @appleplexy.