Another Reason To Label Genetically Engineered Food: 2,4-D

On Wednesday (Oct. 15), the Obama administration sped up the chemical treadmill by approving a new weed killer called Enlist Duo.

This means that genetically engineered corn and soybeans – the two most widely grown crops in America – could soon be blanketed not only in glyphosate (the infamous ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup) but also in 2,4-D, a toxic herbicide linked to Parkinson’s, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and thyroid and reproductive problems.

And since grocery manufacturers aren’t required to label genetically engineered (GE) foods, a shopper scanning the supermarket aisle would be hard pressed to know whether a box of cereal on the shelf contains ingredients that were grown with a coating of harmful defoliants – putting human health and the environment at greater risk.

One of the reasons that more than 90 percent of Americans support labeling genetically engineered food is that people want to know more – not less – about how the food they eat and feed their families was produced.

Citizens across the country are demanding the right to know. So far this year, 35 bills have been introduced in 20 state legislatures to require GE labeling. And this November, people in Oregon and Colorado will be voting on GE labeling ballot initiatives.

Now that government agencies have given the green light to Dow AgroSciences to sell 2,4-D-tolerant, genetically engineered corn and soybeans and OK’d dousing them in Enlist Duo weed killer, there’s yet another reason to stand up for consumers’ right to know and to fight for GE labeling.  

Areas of Focus
Disqus Comments

Related News

Continue Reading

What is GRAS?

Food and chemical companies are permitted to approve the use of new potentially harmful additives and other substances in snacks, drinks and more without the Food and Drug Administration’s review and...