Thrive Market Urges Natural Food Retailers and Organic Brands to Fight Confusing GMO Labeling Legislation

LOS ANGELES, July 6, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Thrive Market, the largest retailer of exclusively non-GMO foods in America, has issued an open call for natural food retailers and organic brands to stand with them against the Senate's so-called "compromise" bill on GMO labeling.

The legislation, introduced by Sens. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), would give food companies three options for providing consumers information on GMO ingredients: on-package labeling; on-package electronic labeling; or a symbol that would be developed by the Department of Agriculture. Presumably, most companies would choose to place an ambiguous, scannable QR code on the package instead of writing the words "made with GMO ingredients."

The co-CEOs of Thrive Market, Gunnar Lovelace and Nick Green, believe in transparency for American consumers, and don't think national legislation should supercede state rights (like the bill passed recently in Vermont which requires clear labeling on GMO products).

Lovelace and Green have issued an open call to natural food retailers and organic brands to encourage their customers to oppose this bill. "We feel it's the responsibility of the organic industry to help educate and advocate for real transparency in the supply chain. The QR Codes and 1-800 numbers being proposed are not helpful for consumers and set the labeling movement back," said Lovelace. "We've been actively reaching out to our millions of users about opposing the upcoming vote and urge other retailers and brands to do the same."

Because the definition of bioengineering in this legislation is so ambiguous, the FDA has stated that it "will likely mean that many foods from genetically engineered (GE) sources will not be subject to this bill." Furthermore, the bill requires that for a product to qualify for mandatory labeling, it must be provable that a GMO product's modification could not be achieved through conventional breeding or be found in nature—something near impossible to determine.

Americans deserve the same protections offered to citizens of other countries. Worldwide, 64 nations have clear standards for GMO labeling—including the EU, Australia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and China. Many of the corporations that are fighting GMO labeling laws in the U.S. abide by similar laws internationally.

Additionally, consumers have an opportunity to make their voices heard:

1. Click here to see which Senators are supporting the bill
2. Call 202-224-3121 to either thank them for their support or urge them to change their vote

About Thrive Market 
Thrive Market is a membership e-commerce platform on a mission to make the world's highest quality natural and organic products affordable for every American family. For $60 per year, Thrive Market members get access to their favorite natural snacks, supplements, home, beauty, and baby products at 30–50% of retail, shipped direct to their door for free. Each paid membership on the site also sponsors a free membership for a low-income family. Visit thrivemarket.com to learn more.

Contact: Jenna Hoops, Derris & Company 
[email protected]/ 646.362.4690

RELATED LINKS
https://thrivemarket.com/blog/what-backers-of-the-gmo-compromise-bill-dont-want-you-to-know 
http://www.thrivemarket.com 
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/on-gmo-labeling-congress-narrowly-did-something_us_5720db62e4b011b9c3f8fc72

SOURCE Thrive Market

Related Links

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