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Will Romney Label Genetically Modified Foods?

(Evan Vucci/AP Photo)

I was inspired by Chris Christie’s speech last night at the Republican National Convention. My sweetheart and I held hands while tears came to our eyes, hoping against hope that he and Ann Romney were right about Mitt Romney, the Republican nominee for President of the United States.

It was not unlike, for me, the night President Obama was elected as our first black president.

During the course of the Obama administration, I started reading about GMOs. As a food writer, it was concerning me more and more that we didn’t know what was in our food anymore. On Food Nation Radio Network, my Executive Producer, Michael Serio and I began to interview experts on the subject. What we found was alarming and studies are now showing health effects and fertility issues associated with consuming genetically modified foods. Many of our interviews are available via internet search. We have yet to find a Florida House of Representatives member who will definitively get behind the labeling of GMOs in our state. There has been some talk of it at the federal level.

The only way to inform Americans about what they are eating is through responsible labeling of genetically modified food. We thought President Obama would do so as he promised in 2007 on the campaign trail in this audio clip: 

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Unfortunately, he appears to have recanted on this position. Instead he appointed Michael Taylor, FDA and Tom Vilsack, USDA to watch over our food supply. Both men have ties to one of the leaders in genetically modified seed technology, Monsanto.

However, lest you think what I’ve written thus far is about politics or parties, here are a few more facts for you to “digest”:

Vice President Dan Quayle was one of the first to speak out in favor of spreading this new technology, which many scientists claim is not adequately tested or regulated, throughout the world. Listen to this:  

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President George Herbert Walker Bush felt substantially the same way. He went so far as to say “we are in the dereg business”, which we now know endangered the safety of our citizens in recent studies released: 

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This is a departure from the approach to biotechnology under Reagan. In a paper written in 2003, the Union of Concerned Scientists said of the administration, in part, “Even though it tended to resist regulation as a general matter, the Reagan administration eventually decided to fashion a new ‘regulatory framework’ made up of old statutes.”

What about President Clinton? Was he the voice of reason? Not so much. Nor was President George W. Bush. They were keynote speakers in 2010 at the International Biotechnology convention where they discussed “feeding the world” through biotechnology.

We now know, the current genetically modified crops are generally not increasing crop yields, require more and more Roundup (an herbicide that has dangerous effects on humans), and nearly twice as much water as their non-gmo counterparts.

Now, we have a new contender for President, Mitt Romney. Romney not only supported biotechnology in his state, but gave us a glimpse of his proposed Agriculture Committee should he be elected. You can see that here: Same Old Cronies

Several of these proposed advisors have ties to Monsanto, Dupont, Archer Daniels Midland, Cargill and more.

Fast forward to last night at the Republican National Convention in Tampa. Chris Christie said we should take our country back. Ann Romney said we can trust her husband to do the right things.

So much for inspiration.

Food Nation Radio Network attempted to reach the Romney campaign in advance of this story. Their voicemail says they will not accept messages. Previous attempts have been made numerous times to reach the Romney campaign via phone and email. We were told he was too busy to respond to our request for a position statement or interview on GMOs.

Elizabeth Dougherty has been a food writer for over 10 years, attended culinary school and holds a Bachelor’s degree, Magna Cum Laude in Hospitality, Business and Labor Relations from NYIT. She has been a talk show host of nearly 150 episodes of Food Nation Radio which airs each Saturday afternoon at 4 on WWBA AM820 News and  other stations. You can read her articles and hear previous shows on her podcast page on the Food Nation Radio Network website and on Facebook.

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  • Sam Dudding

    I’m not a proponent of GMO. I prefer to eat food as God intended. If I have a choice of 2 like items and one is labeled “Non GMO” that’s the one I’ll buy, but what you say here is simply not true: “We now know, the current genetically modified crops are generally not increasing crop yields, require more and more Roundup (an herbicide that has dangerous effects on humans), and nearly twice as much water as their non-gmo counterparts.”

    GMO crops are requiring the use of more insecticides in some cases but still usually less than non GMO crops. During this most recent drought, GMO corn outproduced non GMO corn dramatically. Some farmers who planted both GMO and non GMO seed had their entire non GMO crop wither and die while the GMO crops did amazingly well despite the lack of water.

    While I don’t like ethanol produced from corn in my gas tank due to its inflationary effects on food prices, if it must be there, I don’t mind the GMO corn being used to produce ethanol.

    Roundup has a low toxicity level to humans–level IV on a I – V scale where V is least toxic, and does not bioaccumulate because it breaks down very rapidly. From Wikipedia: “The EPA considered a “worst case” dietary risk model of an individual eating a lifetime of food entirely from glyphosate-sprayed fields, and with residue levels remaining at their maximum levels, and concluded no adverse effects would exist under these conditions.[42] In 2007, the EPA selected glyphosate for further screening for endocrinal disruptor effects, not because of suspected effects, but because glyphosate is a widely used herbicide (the EPA has stated selection for screening does not itself imply risk).[44]

    Beyond the glyphosate salts content, commercial formulations of glyphosate contain surfactants, which vary in nature and concentration. As a result, human poisoning with this herbicide is not with the main active ingredient alone, but with complex and variable mixtures.[45]

    A 2000 review concluded that “under present and expected conditions of new use, there is no potential for Roundup herbicide to pose a health risk to humans”.[46] A 2002 review by the European Union concluded the same.”

    I’m on board with requiring the labeling of GMO produce but in the battle to win, only the facts must be presented. Don’t fall into the trap of trying to create hysteria with false statements. GMO is scary enough all by itself.

    • Elizabeth Dougherty

      You are incorrect. Newer studies from 2009-2012 from GEKKO in Germany, University of Caen in France, CRIIGEN and Testbiotech all indicate there are serious health concerns in consuming GMO products.

    • Elizabeth Dougherty

      With regard to your assertions that I am not speaking the truth in this statement,” We now know, the current genetically modified crops are generally not increasing crop yields, require more and more Roundup (an herbicide that has dangerous effects on humans), and nearly twice as much water as their non-gmo counterparts” we interviewed Professor Don Huber, a research scientist, Professor Emeritus at Purdue University and a specialist in agriculture science and plant genetics who made those very statements about genetically modified crops recently on Food Nation Radio Network.

      • Sam Dudding

        My knowledge of crop yields is first-hand. I have very close friends who own a large farm in IL and they grow thousands of acres of corn. With regard to drought tolerance, there was absolutely no question that the GMO seed produced where the non-GMO seed was almost totally lost.

        • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1311166840 Bev Baker

          Gee that is very odd Sam. My sister has a large farm in Indiana growing GMO corn. Thousands of acres. It all died in the drought

  • Emmanuel Roux

    Politicians are in the pockets of the biotech industry.
    Unfortunately little is to be expected from them.
    As consumers we can influence things by making our voices heard and the best place are the supermarkets.
    I go to different markets and ask the manager how can I tell if a product contains GMOs?
    Inevitably they have no idea and respond with a blank stare, and I launch into my speech
    Within two minutes they understand that GMOS ingredients contain more herbicides than non GMO and that there may be other health risks
    I ask them to research and contact me, I give my email and tel #. I have had responses from Publix saying that they follow usda guidelines.
    However the more they hear concerns from consumers the more likely they will listen and support GMO labeling
    The battle will be won by getting food processors concerned by loosing marketshare or gaining bad publicity to abandon GMOS ingredients

  • Nedelman Jeff

    What do you need to know? After more than 20 years of science study by every public health organization in the world the verdict is in – GMO ingredients are safe. They are identical to and indistinguishable from the original, especially when it comes to nutrition. For example rice sold in zldcs has enhanced Vittamin A which revents millions of cases of pediatric blindness.

    80% of the American food supply contains GMO ingredients. Wht
    at informtion are you missing. The organic and natural markets re soaring, at premium prices. What’s the problem?

    The FDA basically has two options.Preempt the CA law, which would be a battle royal or do for GMOs what it did for rBST. In this case the Agency permitted dairy farmers who did not use the synthethic hormone to boost production to make a factural statement to that effect BUT the FDA REQUIRED another sentence, a disclaimer, that in effect said, there was no difference in the product.

    Choice your poison – preemption or nonsense labeling.

    • Guest

      Hopefully you realize that Golden Rice was engineered to be mill-polished and several studies suggest that mill-polished rice increases diabetes risk. So instead of giving people the thousands of other plants with provitamin A, biotech companies spent millions of dollars on adverstising Golden Rice which will likely increase diabetes. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3024208/
      http://www.bmj.com/content/344/bmj.e1454

      How can GE crops be, “identical to and indistinguishable from the original” if the express proteins that the original does not or contains promoters or antibiotic resistant markers, etc.? As far as nutrition, I’m assuming you haven’t even read the USDA petitions for the GE crops or you would know that nutrition is not, “identical”. For example, there are 5 fatty acids that are at statistically significant different levels compared to the near isoline for Mon87427. That is just one of numerous examples.

      As for your claim that there is no difference in products that contain rBST and those that do not. A U.S. court ruled that there is a difference.

      As for your claim, “After more than 20 years of science study by every public health organization in the world” that is false. Most public health organizations have never conducted a single study on GE foods. The FDA for example do not test GE foods as part of the regulatory process, they instead just informally ask the biotech companies to tell them that they conducted a study and they look it over. Most public health organizations rely on studies conducted by the biotech companies or are approved by the biotech companies, often which are conducted by researchers with a professional conflict of interest. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306919210001302

      The biotech companies generally restrict independent research. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=do-seed-companies-control-gm-crop-research
      Even with the restrictions there are still studies that suggest potential adverse health effects could occur. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18989835

      As with health concerns for artificial flavors, artificial colors, etc. the subject is controversial. However, the consumer still has the ability to choose whether or not to consume artificial flavors, etc. for a variety of reasons including religious, dietary, etc. because artificial flavors are labeled as are natural flavors and numerous other ingredients and modified ingredients. The American consumer should have the same right to choose as the 50 or so other countries that label GE ingredients do. Considering most polls suggest around 90% or so of Americans want GE labels it would be Anti-American to stop the people from having the simple label that the majority are asking for.

    • Nic_v21

      Jeff you are SO! wrong. All you have to do is read what real scientists like Don Huber are saying, not some paid hack of the companies. Also read Jeffery Smiths book, seeds of deception.

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nHCw36wIhs

      Also if your in California ck out http://www.seedsofdoubtconference.com/

    • Bruce

      Recent research with animals fed with GMO grain in Russia has shown that they become infertile after a few generations.

  • Aznativegirl

    I don’t know who is saying GMO is safe? Let me be perfectly clear. I respond with instant blistering in my mouth and a migraine headache. So you can take your BS research and stuff it where the sun don’t shine. GMO, Pesticides, geo engineering and all the rest is POISON and I am one HUMAN BEING who KNOWS this because I react to ALL OF IT. I have been thru the “medical” poison mill and I am ALLERGIC TO ALL MAN MADE MEDICATIONS. It took YEARS to finally get to the truth. Food allergies, chemical sensitivities and adverse reactions to ALL medications. It is ALL poison. I’ve had a couple occasions where I needed surgery on my knee and my reactions to the poisons they used to do the surgery was so severe that healing was almost impossible. If not for Natural herbs and oils and vitamins and supplements and finally an awareness of common allergens, I have no idea how I would still survive. So, you can take all your LYING “scientific” BIASED BULL CRAP and eat it yourself. LABEL your filthy poison you vicious greedy murdering scumbags. Ooops, sorry, someone blew some cig smoke my way, brain sensitivities include anger and rage. DON”T TRY AND SELL ME YOUR LIES. Your science doesn’t hold water. QUACKS.

  • Annette

    Thank you, Please inform your Florida followers: http://www.labelgmoflorida.com we need approx 700,000 signatures for our ballot petition initiative

  • Charlie Peters

    It is reported that corn along I-5 south of Sacramento California uses lots of water to grow corn for GMO ethanol for my gas tank.



    Should California Governor Brown consider a waiver supported by the UN?



    Is fed EPA confused when a Lodi, California bread baker is taken to federal court to collect $625,000.00 fine for generating ozone from the ethanol made by baking bread while mandating GMO corn fuel ethanol in our gas that may be a bigger deal than MTBE to our ground water supply.

    Do water folks check for ethanol in our drinking water? 
Drinking ethanol maybe rated as causing cancer but MTBE never has.



    Does ATF audit for the payment of the $17 tax of food grade corn ethanol from fuel refiners?



    Let’s see, a 5,000 gallon tanker truck can move around a $85,000.00 tax and a reported $0.50 cent per. gallon process can move fuel grade to food grade.

  • Anonymous

    What would a California judge do with AB 118 Nunez/Arnold?

    AAA said it would not pass a court test.

    GMO corn food will be considered for a label in November.

    GMO Corn in my food and gas stinks.

    Arnold ask the fed for a waiver and the Clinton EPA agreed

    Arnold-George W EPA said NO and agrees with MITT.

    UN, World Bank, many Governors, Several Congressmen, Bill Clinton & Al Gore say GMO ethanol in the gas is bad policy.