BioFood Fight: The War over GMO Labeling in America Rages On

America is one of the only developed nations that does not require genetically modified foods to be labeled as such. 60 countries around the world, excluding our northern brothers Canada, have some sort of GMO labeling requirement but in America, the uphill battle for food transparency has too many obstacles.

Nearly all of our corn, soybean and sugar beet crops are genetically engineered and considering the influence of Monsanto and agribusiness policy and procedures, the battle for freedom of information has a spirited smear campaign opposing it.

In 2013, The Grocery Manufactures of America along with Monsanto hurled at least $11 million to the campaign opposing GMO labeling in Washington and another $2 million to opponents of California's Proposition 37.

According to Monsanto's website, "We oppose current initiatives to mandate labeling of ingredients developed from GM seeds in the absence of any demonstrated risks. Such mandatory labeling could imply that food products containing these ingredients are somehow inferior to their conventional or organic counterparts."

But a recent New York Times poll found that 93 percent of Americans want GMO food to be labeled. Opponents to food labeling claim that consumers will become confused and buy food grown conventionally or locally, causing food prices to rise from the type of bureaucratic hoop jumping organic producers are faced with. A level playing field terrifies the profit mongering agri-giants like Pepsi, Nestle and Monsanto, as it should.

In the face of such strong financial opposition, some folks are turning their attention to the other side of the coin — labeling GMO free food. The Non-GMO Project, a non-profit organization based out of Washington that labels GMO free foods is constantly running into barriers. General Mills announced their iconic and popular Cheerios would no longer contain GMO crops, after a year long search for oats raised conventionally that could meet their supply demands. According to Reuters, General Mills said it spent millions of dollars installing new equipment for processing non-GMO ingredients and setting up distinct transportation and handling facilities to keep non-GMO supplies from mixing with biotech supplies

And other corporations are following suit. Smart Balance, a popular brand of butter-like spreads is committing to a Non-GMO pledge.

“I’ve been in the food industry for 35 years. I have never seen a consumer issue come on this fast,” said Stephen Hughes, chairman and chief executive of Boulder Brands, the parent company of Smart Balance told the LA Times. “Forty-three percent of our consumers want to see a non-GMO Smart Balance.”

But will it be enough to change the tide of consumer freedom to know exactly what they're eating? This year efforts in Massachusetts, Oregon, Washington and California will measure the public's demand for food information.