EWG, Organic Voice collaborating on GMO labeling push
March 06, 2013 | 06:48 PM
The Environmental Working Group and Organic Voices, a group that promotes organic agriculture and last year launched the “Just Label It” campaign to require labeling of all foods with genetically modified or engineered ingredients, announced today they have formed a “collaboration” to promote GMO labeling and organic foods.
Scott Faber
Scott Faber, vice president for governmental affairs at EWG, will serve as Organic Voices’ executive director. EWG will “lend” its Washington government affairs shop to the group, Faber said today in an interview.
EWG President Ken Cook, who played a key role in last year’s failed California initiative to require GMO labeling, said in a news release, “This is a pivotal time for GE labeling.”
“More than 20 states will debate GE labeling legislation this year, and many food industry leaders recognize that it is time for the United States to join 62 other nations that already require GE labeling on packaged foods,” Cook said.
Faber noted that Organic Voices has convinced 1.2 million people to sign a petition to require labeling and said that the joint effort “will push GMO labeling across the finish line.”
The failure of the initiative in California has invigorated the movement for labeling, Faber said. Some companies have decided that “the fight is more costly than putting a statement on the back of the package,” while others remain determined to avoid labeling at all costs, he added.
Scott Faber, vice president for governmental affairs at EWG, will serve as Organic Voices’ executive director. EWG will “lend” its Washington government affairs shop to the group, Faber said today in an interview.
EWG President Ken Cook, who played a key role in last year’s failed California initiative to require GMO labeling, said in a news release, “This is a pivotal time for GE labeling.”
“More than 20 states will debate GE labeling legislation this year, and many food industry leaders recognize that it is time for the United States to join 62 other nations that already require GE labeling on packaged foods,” Cook said.
Faber noted that Organic Voices has convinced 1.2 million people to sign a petition to require labeling and said that the joint effort “will push GMO labeling across the finish line.”
The failure of the initiative in California has invigorated the movement for labeling, Faber said. Some companies have decided that “the fight is more costly than putting a statement on the back of the package,” while others remain determined to avoid labeling at all costs, he added.
