The DARK Act and the fight for GMO Labeling Corinne Smith, Megan Beyer, Maggie Dankmyer, Salome Beyene KNH 213 Community & Global nutrition Conclusions/Recommendations Policy/program/Organization History of Policy or Problem ABSTRACT Senate will soon consider the DARK Act, “Deny Americans the Right-to-Know” Act This piece of legislation was introduced in opposition to mandatory GMO labeling by Representatives Mike Pompeo (R0 Kan.) and G.K Butterfield (D- N.C.) It is an anti-GMO labeling bill and has already passed the House of Representatives. The DARK Act would preempt states from requiring labeling of GMO food, create a GMO “safety” review system based on industry funded science, and allow “natural” foods to contain GMOingredients.1 All of which eliminates the FDA’s ability to craft a National labeling system Big food companies have already spent $51 million in the first 6 months of 2015 to lobby Congress However…Calls, letter, emails, and visits from consumers like you can make a huge difference!!!6 Representative Mike Pompeo, who reintroduced the bill, announced his intentions in a press statement, expressing "the legislation takes an approach that is far better than a 50-state patchwork of GMO labeling laws," and that "GMOs are safe and have a number of important benefits for people and our planet.”   On July 23, 2014 the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1599, the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015, also known as the "Deny Americans the Right to Know Act" (DARK)8 The final vote was 275 to 1508 Breakdown of votes shows that 230 republicans and 45 democrats voted aye; and 138 democrats and 12 republicans voted with a total of 8 not voting8 The first time the bill was introduced was during the 113th Congress where it died in committee8 Supporters of the DARK Act believe that this bill will eliminate the "patchwork" of state labeling laws in that the variety of  of state labeling mandates from anti- GMO activists create a complex maze of unnecessary regulations that would burden farmers and small businesses, provide consumers with inaccurate information, raise food costs, and create a stigma around GMOs.2 The strengths of this policy include the money and power the DARK Act has on its side from biotechnology and large food companies and industry funded research supporting it. However, if enough people propose the DARK Act, we can keep it from passing the Senate. A limitation of the DARK Act would be that the act would be altering the definition of ‘natural’ when labeled on food products. Ultimately it is extremely important for the public to stand up to the DARK Act so people are not blinded side by these large food companies.  A 2012 poll by the Mellman Group found that 90% of Americans favored GMO labeling,1 however with the DARK Act eliminating labeling of GMO foods, it will ultimately disregard the will of the American people. Deny Americans the Right to Know Act (DARK Act) will block the consumer's right to know what is in theirfood and how it is grown.1 This policy is dangerous to consumers as it will not allow for genetically modified organisms (GMO’s) to be labeled in food. This policy has passed the House of Representatives and is currently in the senate to be reviewed. Many large food companies are spending huge amounts of money, so the 75-80% of food on market does not have to disclose exactly what is in the food.7 American’s have the right to know what they are consuming to protect them from harmful side-effects.    Space the pictures out over the entire poster to break up the text. If you want it on, you can print the references on the piece of paper amd attach to back of poster once it is finished. Have you provided info from scholarly resource?- I would not consider doctor Oz a scholarly resource. Make sure your references are not biased and provide objective information Try to use more bullets and less paragrpah text (make easier to read); Is there room to briefly discuss the concerns for GMO’s e.g give little background ot someone who doesn’t know anything about it. What interactive game or quiz etc are you going to usse? Will it be on the poster? Context Food and biotechnology companies are supporting legislation to block GMO labeling, but as consumers, we need to take action and demand mandatory GMO labeling and a FDA review system based on independent studies and published science, not industry funded science that supports the current review system.   Widespread adoption of genetically modified corn, soybeans and other crops has dramatically increased the use of weed-killing herbicides such as glyphosate. The overuse of glyphosate has forced farmers to turn to more toxic herbicides linked to serious health problems, including cancer and Parkinson’s disease. The Grocery Manufactures Association is the largest stakeholder in the proposed act, along with large food companies and biotechnology companies.3 Therefore, farmers and the grocery Manufactures Association will greatly benefit from the DARK act but their consumers will be blindly consuming foods that may cause serious health problems. The DARK Act would also make it nearly impossible for local agencies to protect human health and the environment on any of the 228 million acres that are currently being used to grow GMOs.3 Nutritional Problem GMO’s, also called ‘genetically modified organisms’, are organisms that have been artificially manipulated in a laboratory through genetic engineering. GMO’s can cause: Cancer, Parkinson’s Disease, food allergies, increased toxicity & other unpredictable damages. Most countries around the world do not consider GMO’s safe and 80% of the food on market in the U.S contains GMO’s unless it is labeled as part of the Non-GMO Project Verified. Everyone who purchases food, especially processed food, that is not labeled as Non-GMO Project Verified is at risk for serious health problems, including cancer and Parkinson’s disease.1 Policy Translation Evaluation Websites like, Just Label It, are calling for consumers to take action by telling the FDA, Congress, and big food companies such as Kellog’s, PepsiCo and General Mills, that we have a right to know what is in our food and also by pushing the government to make GMO labeling mandatory. If the DARK act passes the Senate food companies will not have to label how the food is grown or what pesticides have been used on the crop.  This infringes on the consumer's right to know exactly what is in the product and leaves the consumer unknowingly consuming harmful GMOs.1 Currently the DARK Act has passed the house and is in the senate. To date, not one of the senate democrats is willing to work with the republican senator John Hoeven to craft a senate version of the DARK Act.  Many of the big food and biotech companies have spent millions to lobby against Congress.6  It is important that the DARK Act it not passed through the senate so consumers are not blind to the new labeling that could be put in place.