The Organic Consumers Association http://www.organicconsumers.org/ is an organization campaigning for health, justice, and sustainability. I love what they stand for and how they keep me informed through their website and great newsletter Organic Bytes.
Just one example of the great work they are doing is this: demanding labels on GMO Salmon in CA! It’s crazy that salmon is being genetically modified (you can read more about GMOs here) but the important thing is to make sure it’s at least labeled so we have a choice when shopping!
The most recent Organic Bytes newsletter shared much of this… the latest on the California bill AB 88, which requires labels on genetically engineered salmon. It moved forward on May 3, 2011, when it passed the Assembly Health Committee.
Assembly member Jared Huffman introduced the bill, AB 88, in anticipation of U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of the first-ever proposed commercialization of a genetically engineered animal, AquaBounty’s salmon.
“Knowing whether our salmon is genetically engineered is important for a host of reasons, including risks to our native salmon species, and allowing consumers to make dietary choices consistent with concerns they may have for the environment, food safety, and religiously or ethically based dietary restrictions,” said Assemblymember Huffman, in explaining the reason for introducing the bill. I say a big kudos to you Assemblymember Huffman!
If you live in California, AB 88 needs your help! The next vote is on May 18th in the Appropriations Committee. If your Assembly Member is on the Committee, please let them know you’ll be watching their vote to see if they support consumers’ right to know about GMOs!
And, if you live anywhere else in the country, there’s still time to stop Frankenfish! The FDA hasn’t approved it yet. Please tell President Obama to reject AquaBounty’s GMO salmon.
You can go to http://www.organicconsumers.org/ and enter your state to find this bill and other bills that may be affecting you and your families.
From the website: The Organic Consumers Association (OCA) is an online and grassroots non-profit 501(c)3 public interest organization campaigning for health, justice, and sustainability. The OCA deals with crucial issues of food safety, industrial agriculture, genetic engineering, children’s health, corporate accountability, Fair Trade, environmental sustainability and other key topics. We are the only organization in the US focused exclusively on promoting the views and interests of the nation’s estimated 50 million organic and socially responsible consumers. The OCA represents over 850,000 members, subscribers and volunteers, including several thousand businesses in the natural foods and organic marketplace. Our US and international policy board is broadly representative of the organic, family farm, environmental, and public interest community.
© 2011 Trudy Scott
