Unlike issues such as gun control or universal healthcare that fall neatly into “Red” and “Blue” territories, divisions over GMO labeling look a lot more like a bento box, especially if you broaden the lens. On the anti-labelling side are large food corporations, farm groups, and many scientists, who worry that labeling will send a message that GM food is unsafe. (The scientific consensus is that there’s nothing inherently unsafe about GM food.) On the other side lies an eclectic but passionate mix of people who oppose industrial agriculture, have (likely misplaced) health concerns, or believe that transparency regarding GMOs is critical. How these beliefs translate into partisan politics greatly depends on what facet of the conversation you’re examining.
When the issue reaches the broader consumer level, so far, there is no evidence of a partisan divide, says William Hallman, professor of human ecology in Rutgers’ School of Environmental and Biological Sciences. A number of surveys show that consumers overwhelmingly support GMO labeling, but Hallman says it’s important to keep in mind that most polls don’t give the option of saying “I don’t know” when asked about support for labeling. Few consumers will say they don’t want more information. “Two-thirds of them have never had a conversation about GMOs in their life…It’s really not high on the issue agenda for most people,” he says.
But as the conversation gets picked up by national politicians with bigger megaphones, there’s a chance that observers will fall into line behind leaders who share their party affiliations. For consumers, that means their stance on GMO labeling may come down to who they identify with most as they filter facts.
The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion and analysis. Read full, original post: Congress is having a messy food fight over GMO labeling
