County Resolution to Support Labeling of GE Foods

Whereas:

Consumers have a right to know what genetically engineered (GE) foods they are eating.

And Whereas:

Consumers wish to know whether the food they purchase and consume is a GE food. Concerns include the potential transfer of allergens into food and other health risks, potential environmental risks associated with the genetic engineering of crops, and religiously and ethically based dietary restrictions.

And Whereas:

Adoption and implementation of mandatory labeling requirements for GE food produced in the United States would facilitate international trade.

And Whereas:

Citizens from around the world have called upon their governments to label genetically engineered foods.  More than two dozen industrialized nations have either passed or enacted labeling requirements. These countries include the 15 nations that make up the European Union, as well as Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand and many others. Even China has agreed to label genetically engineered foods.

And Whereas:

A growing number of national, regional and local organizations in the United States and around the world are calling for the mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods.  These include The American Association of Retired People, Consumers Union, Consumer Federation of America and the Sierra Club.

And Whereas:

Public opinion polls consistently show that the great majority of Americans—both Democrats and Republicans—want genetically engineered foods to be labeled.

And Whereas:

A significant portion of the citizens of San Luis Obispo Co. have expressed their desire for an outright ban of genetically engineered crops via Measure Q and even opponents of measure Q have publicly expressed their support of GE labeling.

Therefore, be it resolved that:
The San Luis Obispo Co. Board of Supervisors, on behalf of the citizens of San Luis Obispo County, do hereby urge our representatives at both the state and the federal level to support efforts to require mandatory labeling of GE foods.  In particular, we urge our federal representatives to support Dennis Kucinich’s Genetically Engineered Food Right To Know Act of 2003, otherwise known as H.R. 2916 in every way possible. We also urge the US FDA to move forward with provisions for GE labeling.