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Coalition for Safe and Affordable Food's Letter to House of Representatives re H.R. 1599, the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act

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We are writing on behalf of the Coalition for Safe and Affordable Food about a significant development that could impact American consumers, businesses, farmers and food manufacturers. At a time when legislative consensus is hard to come by, it is notable that substantial bipartisan support is building behind a national, voluntary food labeling standard for products containing ingredients derived from genetically modified organisms (GMOs).</p>

Honorable Members of the U.S. House of Representatives:

We are writing on behalf of the Coalition for Safe and Affordable Food about a significant development that could impact American consumers, businesses, farmers and food manufacturers. At a time when legislative consensus is hard to come by, it is notable that substantial bipartisan support is building behind a national, voluntary food labeling standard for products containing ingredients derived from genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Representatives Mike Pompeo (R-KS) and G.K. Butterfield (D-NC) have introduced H.R. 1599, the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act — bipartisan legislation that will ensure food labeling in the United States is uniform and science-based. The March 25 bill introduction came one day after the House Committee on Agriculture held a hearing on the critical role of biotechnology in the advancement and sustainability of American farming.

Today interest groups across the country are pushing state-level labeling mandates that will exacerbate consumer confusion and drive up food prices. Instead of informing consumers, these state initiatives are filled with loopholes, exempting as much as two-thirds of foods. The result will be higher food prices for hard working American families – as much as $500 a year for a family of four, according to a study by Cornell University Professor William Lesser.

By putting a stop to the patchwork of state-based labeling requirements, the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act will protect consumers from unpredictable price variations and protect farmers and food manufacturers from having to contend with inconsistent and costly regulations.

Read the Coalition's Letter Here in its Entirety