Opponents of GMOs push for Connecticut food-labeling law; Phil Miller reintroduces bill

Opponents of GMOs push for Connecticut food-labeling law; Phil Miller reintroduces bill - The Middletown Press : Serving Middletown, CT

HARTFORD — Opponents of genetically modified organisms — or GMOs — signaled a new push for a state food-labeling law with a rallying meeting at the Legislative Office Building Thursday attended by activists, legislators, chefs, farmers and even the sponsor of last year’s bill, newly retired Dick Roy of Milford.

Last year’s bill failed to make it to a vote, with legislative lawyers reportedly balking at “liabilities” that could be exploited by GMO seed maker Monsanto. Republican State Rep. Tony Hwang of Trumbull praised Roy for reaching across the aisle on the bill and helping legislators get educated on the issue. “This is a basic… right of a person to know what they’re eating,” he said.

This year’s versions of the bill will be introduced by Rep. Phil Miller, D-Essex, and Diana Urban, D- North Stonington, in separate committees.

“So we’re preparing it right now to leave them with as little to do to fix it,” said Miller, “and our bill very closely resembles the ones going forth in Maine, Vermont and New Jersey.”

Genetically engineered or modified organisms are engineered to withstand direct application of herbicide and sometimes to produce their own insecticide.

Monsanto has told the Register that GMOs are safe, based on studies done in other countries, and said the GM seeds increase yields, withstand drought and are so widely used – in the likes of corn, soybeans, canola, cottonseed and sugar beets -- that it would be costly and impractical to do labeling.

Opponents dispute many of those claims and say what may have begun with good intentions is now companies just protecting their investment.