Today, nearly 500 organizations and associations, part of the Coalition for Safe and Affordable Food, sent a letter to Congress urging members to support H.R. 1599, the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act. Last week the House Agriculture Committee passed the bipartisan bill by voice vote and it is expected to be voted on by the House later this week.
Today, nearly 500 organizations and associations, part of the Coalition for Safe and Affordable Food, sent a letter to Congress urging members to support H.R. 1599, the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act. Last week the House Agriculture Committee passed the bipartisan bill by voice vote and it is expected to be voted on by the House later this week.
The Coalition for Safe and Affordable Food’s letter is below.
July 21, 2015
Honorable Members of the U.S. House of Representatives:
We are writing on behalf of the Coalition for Safe and Affordable Food to urge your support for H.R. 1599, the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act. At a time when legislative consensus is hard to come by, it is notable that substantial bipartisan support is building behind a national, voluntary food labeling standard for products containing ingredients derived from genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Representatives Mike Pompeo (R-KS) and G.K. Butterfield (D-NC) have introduced H.R. 1599, the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act— bipartisan legislation that will ensure food labeling in the United States is uniform and science-based.
Today interest groups across the country are pushing state-level labeling mandates that will exacerbate consumer confusion and drive up food prices. Instead of informing consumers, these state initiatives are filled with loopholes, exempting as much as two-thirds of foods. The result will be higher food prices for hard working American families – as much as $500 a year for a family of four, according to a study by Cornell University Professor William Lesseri.
By putting a stop to the patchwork of state-based labeling requirements, the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act will protect consumers from unpredictable price variations and protect farmers and food manufacturers from having to contend with inconsistent and costly regulations.
GMOs have been an important part of our nation’s food supply for the past 20 years, and 70-80 percent of the foods people eat in the United States contain ingredients that have been genetically engineered. In addition, the leading health and regulatory bodies in the world, from the World Health Organization to the American Medical Association, have all concluded GMOs are safe.
H.R. 1599, the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act will give consumers, farmers, and small businesses certainty. The proposed legislation also would improve clarity for foods carrying a GMO-free label and provide uniform rules by creating a national certification program for foods that have been produced without bioengineering.
We encourage you to vote “Yes” on H.R. 1599, the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act as amended and as reported by the House Agriculture Committee on a voice vote. We believe that it is imperative that Congress pass a bipartisan bill this year to ensure people across our nation continue to have access to consistent science-based standards for food labeling.
Sincerely,
AACC International
AgriBank, FCB
Agribusiness Association of Iowa
Agribusiness Association of Kentucky
Agribusiness Council of Indiana
Agricultural Council of Arkansas
Agricultural Council of California
Agricultural Retailers Association
AgriGrowth
Agri-Mark, Inc.
AgStar Financial Services, ACA
Alabama Agribusiness Council
Alabama Farmers Cooperative, Inc.
Alabama Farmers Federation
Alabama Feed & Grain Association
Alabama Soybean and Corn Association
Alaska Farm Bureau
Amalgamated Sugar Company (ID, OR, WA)
American Agri-Women
American Bakers Association
American Beverage Association
American Crystal Sugar Company
American Farm Bureau Federation
American Feed Industry Association
American Frozen Food Institute
American Fruit and Vegetable Processors and Growers Coalition
American Phytopathological Society
American Seed Trade Association
American Society of Sugar Beet Technologists
American Soybean Association
American Sugarbeet Growers Association
Ameriflax
AMPI
Arizona Beverage Association
Arizona Bioindustry Association (AZBio)
Arizona Cotton Growers Association
Arizona Farm Bureau
Arkansas Beverage Association
Arkansas Farm Bureau
Arkansas Seed Dealers Association
Arkansas Soybean Association
Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce/AIA
Associated Industries of Florida
Associated Oregon Industries
American Beverage Association
American Crystal Sugar Company
American Farm Bureau Federation
American Feed Industry Association
American Frozen Food Institute
American Fruit and Vegetable Processors and Growers Coalition
American Phytopathological Society
American Seed Trade Association
American Society of Sugar Beet Technologists
American Soybean Association
American Sugarbeet Growers Association
Ameriflax
AMPI
Arizona Beverage Association
Arizona Bioindustry Association (AZBio)
Arizona Cotton Growers Association
Arizona Farm Bureau
Arkansas Beverage Association
Arkansas Farm Bureau
Arkansas Seed Dealers Association
Arkansas Soybean Association
Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce/AIA
Associated Industries of Florida
Associated Oregon Industries
Barrel O’ Fun Snack Foods
BASF Corporation
Bassett's Ice Cream
Bayer CropScience, LP
Beet Sugar Development Foundation
Better Made Snack Foods, Inc.
Beverage Association of Tennessee
Big Horn Basin Beet Growers (WY)
Big Horn County Sugar Beet Growers (MT)
Bimbo Bakeries, USA
Bio Nebraska Life Sciences Association
Biocom (CA)
BIOForward
BioKansas
BioNJ
BioOhio
Bioscience Association of North Dakota
Biotechnology Industry Organization
Blue Diamond Growers
Bunge North America Inc.
Calcot, Ltd.
California Alfalfa and Forage Association
California Association of Wheat Growers
California Association of Winegrape Growers
California Beet Growers
California Canning Peach Association
California Farm Bureau
California Grain & Feed Association
California League of Food Processors
California Life Sciences Association
California Seed Association
California-Nevada Beverage Association
Campbell Soup Company
Cargill Inc.
Caudill Seed Company, Inc.
Ceres Solutions, LLP
Chemistry Council of New Jersey
Chemistry Industry Council of Illinois
CHS Inc
Co-Alliance LLP
CoBank
Colorado Association of Distributors
Colorado Association of Wheat Growers
Colorado Beverage Association
Colorado Bioscience Association
Colorado Corn Growers Association
Colorado Dairy Farmers
Colorado Farm Bureau
Colorado Potato Legislative Association
Colorado Seed Industry Association
Colorado Sugarbeet Growers
Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey
ConAgra Foods, Inc.
Congressional Hunger Center
Connecticut Bioscience Growth Council
Cooperative Milk Producers Association
Corn Growers Association of North Carolina
Corn Producers Association of Texas
Corn Refiners Association
Council for Responsible Nutrition
CropLife America
CURE – Connecticut United for Research Excellence
Dean Foods Company
Delaware Bio
Delaware Farm Bureau
Delaware-Maryland Agribusiness Association
Dow AgroSciences
DSM Nutritional Products
DuPont
Elwyhee Beet Growers (ID)
Empire State Potato Growers Inc. (NY)
Equity Cooperative Livestock Sales Association
Exotic Wildlife Association
Far West Agribusiness Association
Farmers Cooperative Creamery
FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative
First District Association
Flavor & Extract Manufacturers Association
Florida Beverage Association
Florida Farm Bureau
Florida Feed Association, Inc.
Florida Fertilizer & Agrichemical Association
Florida Heartland Agricultural Coalition
Florida Highlands County Citrus Growers Association
Florida Seed Association, Inc.
Food Industry Alliance of New York State
Foremost Farms USA
Fuller Seed and Supply
Furmano’s
General Mills Inc.
Georgia Agribusiness Council
Georgia Beverage Association
Georgia Cattlemen's Association
Georgia Chamber of Commerce
Georgia Cotton Commission
Georgia Farm Bureau
Georgia Feed & Grain
Georgia-Florida Soybean Association
Global Cold Chain Alliance
Global Harvest Initiative
Grain and Feed Association of Illinois
Grassland Oregon, Inc.
Great Plains Canola Association
Grocery Manufacturers Association
Growers for Biotechnology
GROWMARK, Inc
Harvey County Farm Bureau
Hawaii Crop Improvement Association
Hoosier Beverage Association
Hormel Foods
House-Autry Mills
Idaho Eastern-Oregon Seed Association
Idaho Farm Bureau
Idaho Grain Producers Association
Idaho Grower Shippers Association
Idaho Potato Commission
Idaho Soft Drink Association, Inc.
Idaho Sugar Beet Growers
Idaho Technology Council
Illinois Beef Association
Illinois Beverage Association
Illinois Biotechnology Industry Organization – iBIO ®
Illinois Chamber of Commerce
Illinois Corn Growers Association
Illinois Farm Bureau
Illinois Fertilzer and Chemical Association
Illinois Manufacturers' Association
Illinois Retail Merchants Association
Illinois Seed Trade Association
Illinois Soybean Association
Independent Bakers Association
Independent Professional Seed Association
Indiana Chamber of Commerce
Indiana Corn Growers Association
Indiana Farm Bureau
Indiana Health Industry Forum
Indiana Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association
Indiana Retail Council
Indiana Seed Trade Association
Indiana Soybean Alliance
Indiana State Poultry Association
Infant Nutrition Council of America
International Dairy Foods Association
International Foodservice Distributors Association
International Franchise Association
Iowa Association of Business and Industry
Iowa Corn Growers Association
Iowa Farm Bureau
Iowa Institute for Cooperatives
Iowa Seed Association
Iowa Soybean Association
IowaBio
JoMar Seeds
Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association
Kansas Beverage Association
Kansas Cooperative Council
Kansas Corn Growers Association
Kansas Farm Bureau
Kansas Grain & Feed Association
Kansas Soybean Association
Keany Produce Company
Kellogg Company
Kentucky Beverage Association
Kentucky Corn Growers Association
Kentucky Farm Bureau
Kentucky Life Science Council
Kentucky Soybean Association
Kitchen Cooked, Inc.
Knouse Foods Cooperative, Inc.
Land O'Lakes, Inc.
Latham Hi-Tech Seeds
LifeScience Alley
Louisiana Farm Bureau
Louisiana Soybean Association
LouisianaBio
Maine Beverage Association
Maine Potato Board
Maryland and Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association
Maryland Farm Bureau
Maryland Grain Producers Association
Massachusetts Beverage Association
Massachusetts Biotechnology Council
McCormick & Company Inc.
MD/DC/DE Beverage Association
MD-DE Agribusiness Association
MichBio
Michigan Agri-Business Association
Michigan Allied Poultry Industries
Michigan Bean Commission
Michigan Corn Growers Association
Michigan Farm Bureau
Michigan Food and Beverage Association
Michigan Manufacturers Association
Michigan Soft Drink Association
Michigan Soybean Association
Michigan Sugar CompanyMichigan Vegetable Council
Mid Kansas Cooperative Association
Mid-Atlantic Soybean Association
Midwest Forage Association
Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative (MN/ND)
Minnesota AgriGrowth Council
Minnesota Agri-Women
Minnesota Beverage Association
Minnesota Canola Council
Minnesota Chamber of Commerce
Minnesota Corn Growers Association
Minnesota Crop Production Retailers
Minnesota Farm Bureau
Minnesota Grain and Feed Association
Minnesota Soybean Growers Association
Mississippi Biotechnology Association
Mississippi Farm Bureau
Mississippi Soybean Association
Missouri Agribusiness Association
Missouri Beverage Association
Missouri Biotechnology Association (MOBIO)
Missouri Corn Growers Association
Missouri Dairy Association
Missouri Farm Bureau
Missouri Restaurant Association
Missouri Retailers Association
Missouri Soybean Association
Mondelez International
Monsanto Company
Montana Agricultural Business Association
Montana Beverage Association
Montana Grain Growers Association
Montana-Dakota Beet Growers (MT/ND)
National Agricultural Aviation Association
National Alfalfa & Forage Alliance
National Association of Manufacturers
National Association of Wheat Growers
National Barley Growers Association
National Confectioners Association
National Corn Growers Association
National Cotton Council
National Council of Farmer Cooperatives
National Fisheries Institute
National Grain & Feed Association
National Grape Cooperative Association, Inc.
National Milk Producers Federation
National Oilseed Processors Association
National Potato Council
National Restaurant Association
National Seasoning Manufacturers Association
National Sorghum Producers
National Turkey Federation
NEBCO Beet Growers (NE/CO)
Nebraska Cooperative Council
Nebraska Corn Growers Association
Nebraska Dry Bean Commission
Nebraska Farm Bureau
Nebraska Grain and Feed Association
Nebraska Soybean Association
Nebraska Sugarbeet Growers
Nestle Purina PetCare Company
Nestlé USA
Nevada Farm Bureau
New England Biotech Association
New Hampshire Farm Bureau
New Jersey Farm Bureau
New Mexico Farm Bureau
New York Corn and Soybean Growers Association
New York Farm Bureau
New York State Agribusiness Association
New York State Grange
New York Turfgrass Association
NewYorkBio
NORPAC Foods, Inc.
North American Millers Association
North Carolina Agribusiness Council
North Carolina Beverage Association
North Carolina Bioscience Organization (NCBIO)
North Carolina Cotton Producers Association
North Carolina Farm Bureau
North Carolina Potato Association
North Carolina Soybean Producers Association
North Carolina Sweet Potato Commission
North Dakota Corn Growers Association
North Dakota Farm Bureau Federation
North Dakota Grain Dealers Association
North Dakota Soybean Growers Association
Northarvest Bean Growers Association
Northeast Agribusiness and Feed Alliance
Northeast Dairy Foods Association
Northern Canola Growers Association
Northern Great Plains Growers Association
Northwest Dairy Association/Darigold, Inc.
Northwest Food Processors Association
Northwest Grocery Association
Nyssa-Nampa Sugarbeet Growers (ID/OR)
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.
Ohio AgriBusiness Association
Ohio Chamber of Commerce
Ohio Corn and Wheat Growers Association
Ohio Dairy Producers Association
Ohio Farm Bureau
Ohio Manufacturers' Association
Ohio Restaurant Associaiton
Ohio Soft Drink Association
Ohio Soybean Association
Oklahoma Agricultural Cooperative Council, Inc
Oklahoma Agriculture Retailers Association
Oklahoma Farm Bureau
Oklahoma Grain & Feed Association
Oregon Potato Commission
Oregon Retail Council
Oregon Seed Association
Oregon Wheat Growers League
Oregonians for Food and Shelter
Pacific Coast Producers
Pacific Seed Association
Pennsylvania Beverage Association
Pennsylvania Corn Growers Association
Pennsylvania Farm Bureau
Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association
Pennsylvania Restaurant Association
PepsiCo, Inc.
Pet Food Institute
Philadelphia Beverage Association
Plains Cotton Cooperative Association
Plains Cotton Growers, Inc.
Potato Growers of Michigan, Inc.
Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc.
Pretzels, Inc.
Puerto Rico Bio Alliance/INDUNIV
Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers (ND/MN)
Retail Association of Nevada
Retailers Association of Massachusetts
Rhode Island Beverage Association
Rhode Island Farm Bureau
Rocky Mountain Food Industry Association
Rolling Plains Cotton Growers, Inc.
Rudolph Foods
Savor Seasonings, LLC
SC Fertilizer & AgriChemicals Association
SCBIO
Seedway, LLC
Select Milk Producers, Inc.
Shearer's Foods, LLC
Sidney Sugars Incorporated (MT)
Snack Food Association
South Carolina Beverage Association
South Carolina Farm Bureau
South Carolina Soybean Association
South Dakota Agri-Business Association
South Dakota Association of Cooperatives
South Dakota Biotech
South Dakota Farm Bureau
South Dakota Grain & Feed Association
South Dakota Soybean Association
South Dakota Wheat Growers
South Texas Cotton & Grain Association
Southeast Milk, Inc.
Southern California Biomedical Council (SoCalBio)
Southern Cotton Growers, Inc.
Southern Crop Production Association
Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative
Southern Montana Sugarbeet Growers
Southern Rolling Plains Cotton Growers Association
Southern States Cooperative
Southwest Council of Agribusiness
St. Alban's Cooperative Creamery
Syngenta US
Tennessee Chamber of Commerce
Tennessee Farm Bureau
Tennessee Soybean Association
Texas Corn Producers
Texas Farm Bureau
Texas Grain & Feed Association
Texas Poultry Federation
Texas Seed Trade Association
Texas Soybean Association
Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association
The Coca-Cola Company
The Hershey Company
The J.M. Smucker Company
The Kraft Heinz Company
The Schwan Food Company
U.S. Beet Sugar Association
U.S. Canola Association
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
U.S. Dry Bean Council
United Dairymen of Arizona
United Egg Producers
United FCS
United Potato Growers of America
Utah Beverage Association
Utah Farm Bureau
Utah Food Industry Association
Utah Manufacturers Association
Utah Retail Merchants Association
Utz Quality Foods
Vermont Farm Bureau
Virginia Agribusiness Council
Virginia Beverage Association
Virginia Bio
Virginia Farm Bureau
Virginia Grain Producers Association
Virginia Soybean Association
Warner Seeds
Washington Association of Wheat Growers
Washington Biotechnology & Biomedical Association
Washington Farm Bureau
Washington Food Industry Alliance
Washington Friends of Farms & Forests
Washington State Council of Farmer Cooperatives
Washington State Potato Commission
Welch Foods Inc.
West Virginia Farm Bureau
Western Peanut Growers Association
Western Plant Health Association
Western Sugar Cooperative (CO, MT, NE, WY)
Wisconsin Agri-Business Association
Wisconsin Beverage Association
Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation
Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association
Wisconsin Soybean Association
Wisconsin Technology Council
Wise Foods
Wyandot, Inc.
Wyoming Sugar Company
Wyoming Sugar Growers
Yuma Fresh Vegetable Association
