Bill outlawing state GMO labeling laws passes Senate committee

WASHINGTON — In a move that sparked outrage from consumer advocates and praise from the food industry, the Senate Agriculture Committee approved a bill Tuesday that would stop states from requiring food labels to note the presence of genetically modified organisms (GMO).

Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar joined two other committee Democrats and 11 Republicans in supporting the measure. Klobuchar said she did not think the bill she voted for would pass the entire Senate without some pro-consumer amendments, but said she wanted to get the process started.

The vote gave the food industry, including Minnesota-based companies such as Cargill, General Mills and Land O’Lakes, everything it wanted to derail state GMO labeling laws, especially a law set to take effect in Vermont in July.

http://www.startribune.com/klobuchar-votes-for-bill-outlawing-state-gmo-labeling-laws/370656821/