Next-generation GMOs set to infiltrate organic food production

Are Frankenfoods about to sneak their way into organics?

Talk about a one-two punch!

When Congress passed the revised DARK Act (for Denying Americans the Right to Know) and President Obama signed it earlier this year, it pretty much put the kibosh on the labeling of foods containing GMOs.

But it turns out that was just the first part of this devilish deal with Monsanto.

Because the way it was worded has left an opening for Big Food to do something even worse.

And unless we take immediate action, it could mean the end of organic food as we now know it.

GMOs 2.0

Back this summer when the revised DARK Act was just signed into law by President Obama, I said it was designed to make sure that you’ll never know if the food you are eating is genetically modified.

Well, I was right – and then some.

Because that law (officially called the Stabenow-Roberts bill) had a hidden door in it that opened to an even bigger prize for Monsanto and Big Food. And that’s getting GMOs into organic products themselves.

That may sound hard to believe, since one of the things people like best about organic products is that, along with not containing pesticide residues and nasty additives, they’re supposed to be GMO-free.

But now we’ve learned that the Stabenow-Roberts bill allows for “next-generation” GMOs to be used in organics. In effect, transforming once-protected organic products into Frankenfoods.

They’ve even given these bioengineered foods a new name — one that sounds like some sort of video game — GMOs 2.0. And like the original GMOs, we have no idea whatsoever if they are safe to consume.

If you’re wondering how this managed to happen, a lot of it has to do with the fact that the influential lobbying group, the Organic Trade Association (OTA), has become increasingly controlled by Big Food interests.

These companies have no real qualms about GMOs, which are found in many of their conventional products. And increasingly, they have gained influence in the OTA, on whose board they now hold key positions.

In fact, the actual provision in the Stabenow-Roberts bill that would allow these GMOs 2.0 to be a part of certified organic food, was spearheaded by none other than the OTA!

This latest assault on our rights as consumers to eat food with safe and healthy ingredients calls for a line in the sand to be drawn. We simply must stand up to any further attempts to erode what we’ve worked so long and hard to accomplish.

That’s why the Organic Consumers Association (not to be confused with the OTA) is now sounding the alarm – and urgently petitioning the public to oppose any move to destroy the integrity of the USDA’s Certified Organic seal, and the trust we now place in it. (I’ve put a link to sign this petition below).

And time is of essence. That’s because the National Organic Standards Board is scheduled to convene on November 16-18. And it’s considering a provision that could allow for just the kind of genetic tampering with organics that Big Food would love to bring about.

But remember, there’s still a way to make sure that the food you buy for yourself and your family is GMO-free. Look for the label on processed foods that says “Non-GMO Project Verified.”

That’s the only independent, third party non-GMO labeling you’ll find in North America. And currently over 2,700 brands have already signed up, been verified and placed the “Non-GMO Project” label on over 36,000 products.

To add your name and comments to the Organic Consumers Association petition, go here.

“Take action to keep GMOs out of organic!” Organic Consumers Association, action.organicconsumers.org