Dr. Bronner's Opposes Rep. Pompeo's "DARK Act" that Would Ban All States from Labeling Genetically Engineered Foods or GMOs

VISTA, Calif., July 21, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Dr. Bronner's, family-owned maker of the top-selling natural brand of soap in North America, urged consumers last week to contact their representatives and oppose Rep. Mike Pompeo's (R-KS) bill, H.R. 1599, commonly known as the DARK Act – or "Deny Americans the Right to Know" Act. This bill would block all states from labeling genetically engineered foods, and make it much harder for the FDA to ever mandate national labeling. Virtually all genetically modified food grown in the U.S. is engineered by chemical companies to survive high doses of the toxic herbicides they sell, which contaminate our food and water. Sixty-four countries already mandate labeling of GE foods.

"Junk food manufacturers and the pesticide industry want to keep us in the dark about the food we are eating," said David Bronner, President of Dr. Bronner's. "They've pulled out all the stops and kicked their propaganda machine into high gear to ram this terrible law through Congress. Americans overwhelmingly want to know if the food they are eating has been genetically modified to withstand high doses of pesticides, and must be vocal to stop the DARK Act."

According to the Environmental Working Group*, if Pompeo's DARK Act were signed into law, it would:

• Decrease safeguards for farmworkers who spray glyphosate, 2,4-D or other toxic chemicals on GMO crops. Glyphosate is a weed killer that may be carcinogenic according to the world's leading cancer experts. The herbicide 2,4-D has been linked to cancer, hypothyroidism, suppressed immune systems and Parkinson's disease.
• Limit protective buffers intended to protect children near 3,247 elementary schools next to GMO corn and soybean crops. Kids under 12 are exceptionally vulnerable to increased health risks of 2,4-D exposure.
• Prevent warnings to people regarding environmental hazards – such as those gathering at 11,660 churches next to fields of herbicide-tolerant GMO Crops – on which increased amounts of glyphosate and 2,4-D are being sprayed.

*http://www.ewg.org/agmag/2015/07/darker-act-blocks-state-and-local-gmo-safety-rules

Dr. Bronner's commitment to the labeling of GMO foods, as well healthy and sustainable agriculture, corporate accountability, and consumers' right to know is part of the company's mission to put into practice the social and ecological principles that inform Dr. Bronner's philosophy printed on the company's iconic soap labels.

For further information on Dr. Bronner's, please visit: http://www.drbronner.com.

SOURCE Dr. Bronner’s

Related Links

http://www.drbronner.com