The National Potato Council (NPC) praised the release of a legislative proposal by Senate Agriculture Committee chairman Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) that would create permanent federal preemption for food labeling requirements. The NPC urged Congress to consider and approve the legislation quickly to avoid confusion and increased costs in the marketplace.
Consumers, businesses and growers need uniform standards based on federal determinations for food label requirements for all foods, including those made with genetically modified organisms. A patchwork of state food labeling laws will increase costs to consumers by increasing processing and packaging costs without any associated benefit.
Vermont’s mandatory labeling law for foods containing ingredients that have been genetically modified takes effect in July and unless Congress acts swiftly, families, growers and food companies will face confusion and higher food costs in the marketplace—with low-income Americans being hit the hardest.
“U.S. potato growers thank Chairman Roberts for introducing national labeling legislation that is a reasonable, common-sense approach that provides consumers easy access to product information and will not result in increased food costs,” said NPC executive vice president John Keeling. “We look forward to working with both sides of the aisle to ensure that this legislation is approved by Congress in a timely manner.”