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Consumer Protection

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

California Legislative Alerts:

On this page, Consumer Action highlights important California legislation and other state issues relating to consumer protection.

NEW Allow Consumers to choose between Fish and Frankenfish

Consumer Action supports AB 88 (Huffman), which would require labeling of genetically modified salmon entering and sold within the state.

Opinion polls have shown that 95% of Americans want labeling of genetically modified food, and 50% would not eat genetically modified seafood. Some consumers are concerned that eating genetically modified food may carry future health consequences that may be unknown at the present time. Others are concerned less with the impact on their own health than with the impact on the health of the wild salmon stocks should genetically engineered fish escape and outcompete the state’s endangered wild salmon population for resources. (For this reason, genetically modified salmon farms have been banned in California waters since 2004). In either case, consumers deserve the right to know what they are eating, and private companies should not be allowed to take away an individual’s right to be informed.

Access to information is one of the pillars of a functional free market, and covering up a key attribute that consumers wish to consider in their purchasing decisions is favoritism and market-meddling at its worst. If the genetically modified salmon industry is to succeed, it must do what other industries do: stand behind its product, and let consumers decide for themselves if they want what they are selling.

For more info on the bill, see AB 88

To write to your lawmaker about AB 88, use our California Action Tools. Click here.

Update as of 5/24/2011: The author of the bill chose to postpone a vote, as there would not have been enough votes for the bill to pass the Assembly. Action on the bill will take place in January, awaiting action by the FDA, which is deciding whether or not to allow genetically-engineered animals into the food supply.

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consumer protection, california legislation

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