Obama Ready to Sign Food-Label Bill Consumer Groups Dislike
- Transparency lacking in plan for GMO disclosure via scan codes
- Food industry seeking to overturn Vermont law in effect July 1
A shopper browses vegetables at a Mariano's grocery store in Orland Park, Illinois, on June 15, 2016.
Photographer: Daniel Acker/BloombergThe White House plans to support legislation creating a national labeling standard for foods containing genetically modified organisms even though consumer groups criticize the bill for allowing information to live behind special codes, and for exempting meat and eggs.
“While there is broad consensus that foods from genetically engineered crops are safe, we appreciate the bipartisan effort to address consumers’ interest in knowing more about their food, including whether it includes ingredients from genetically engineered crops,” White House spokeswoman Katie Hill said in an e-mail. "We look forward to tracking its progress in the House and anticipate the president would sign it in its current form.”