Davis wants rules on GMO labeling

Rodney Davis
U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R.-Ill.) says consumers don’t truly know what current non-GMO labels mean. (WJBC file photo)

By Greg Halbleib

U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) says although fears about genetically modified foods are misguided, he favors legislation regulating GMO labeling so that consumers know what those IDs mean.

Davis says any current non-GMO labels don’t provide any insight into the product.

“You and I can walk down the aisles and I can point out labels that say non-GMO,” the Taylorville Republican told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin. “You would say, what does that mean? I would say no one knows because there is no process, and because of that it has become a marketing tool rather than an educational tool.”

Davis adds that fears of GMO products are unfounded.

“Not one scintilla of scientific evidence shows that they’re harmful to anyone,” said Davis. “Frankly, the biotechnology process used to genetically modify seeds allows us to grow more food. We’re not going to grow any more farms, so we have to figure out how to grow more food on the farms that we have, and that’s what biotechnology and GMO seeds mean.”

A bill is moving through Congress that would provide regulations on non-GMO labeling.

PODCAST: Listen to Congressman Davis’ interview with Scott Laughlin here.

Greg Halbleib can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…