WASHINGTON -- A bill that would have barred states from moving ahead with mandatory labeling of foods to indicate they contain genetically engineered ingredients failed in the Senate on Wednesday.
The Senate, on a 48-49 vote, fell short of the necessary votes to move ahead to consider the bill that would have barred states from pursuing mandatory labeling.
The bill's failure means that states can continue to move forward with a variety of labeling laws. For example, Vermont's mandatory labeling law is set to go into effect on July 1, and other states are considering similar laws.
"Unfortunately, the impact of these decisions will be felt across the country," the bill's sponsor, Kansas Sen. Pat Roberts, said after the vote.
"Those decisions impact the farmers in fields who would be pressured to grow less efficient crops so manufacturers could avoid these demonizing labels."
The bill's defeat was a huge blow for major players in the food and biotech industry, which have spent millions fighting labeling requirements. They have argued that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are safe and that the labels could be costly for American consumers, agriculture and food companies.
"Despite today’s vote, there continues to be a strong bipartisan consensus to protect American consumers from the increased food costs and confusion of a 50-state patchwork of labeling laws," Pamela Bailey, the head of the Grocery Manufacturers Association, said in a statement.
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, one of the leading opponents to the bill and a Democratic presidential candidate, called the bill's failure a "victory for the American people over corporate interests."
"All over this country, people are becoming more conscious about the food they eat and the food they serve their kids," he said.
"When parents go to the store and purchase food for their children, they have a right to know what they are feeding them. GMO labeling exists in 64 other countries. There is no reason it can’t exist here."
The House passed a bill blocking mandatory state labeling laws last year.
So far, scientific evidence linking GMOs to human illnesses or other poor health outcomes is lacking.
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