The March For GMO Labeling Picks Up Speed
The protestors in the Occupy Wall Street movement are not the only angry citizens around. Today marks the seventh day of the GMO Right2Know march calling on the government to require labeling on foods that are genetically modified. Beginning October 1, thousands of marchers convened at the United Nations in New York and began the 313-mile walk to Washington D.C. in hopes of bringing attention to the lack of identification for Genetically Engineered Foods. The march will continue until October 16 (World Food Day), and the walkers will make stops in different communities along the way to raise awareness and cook up some GMO-free food while they're at it.
Inspiration for the march came from Europe, where a Genfrei-Gehen (GMO-free) campaign organized a successful 600-mile walk from Berlin, Germany to Brussels, Belgium in 2007. While GMO products are labeled by law in Europe and Japan, the United States has held off from taking similar measures despite polls that indicate 93% of Americans want the labeling. The Right2Know march is in part a response to new products such as Monsanto's genetically modified sweet corn, which was unveiled this summer. Agribusiness corporations argue against labeling, predicting a drop in sales if products are labeled genetically modified. Ultimately, the advocates say, it comes down to Americans' right to make an informed decision about what they eat.
Check back on Food Republic for further reports on the march and on World Food Day.
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