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Congressman Peter DeFazio, Students Request Grocery Stores Label Products Containing GMOs

Desmond O'Boyle

Oregon Representative Peter DeFazio and about 40 students from the University of Oregon are pushing super markets to voluntarily label products containing Genetically Modified Organisms.

The Oregon Legislature and the U.S. Congress continue to debate GMO labeling. The Oregon Student Independent Research Group is taking the discussion directly to grocery stores. Recently, OSPIRG requested Market of Choice voluntarily label products. At the U of O Friday, OSPIRG Spokeswoman Hannah Picknell said so far the super market chain has been receptive.

Picknell: "We've also spoken with managers with Safeway in Eugene and Portland, and called on other chains such as Safeway to lead the way and address the concerns of public regarding GMO labeling."

Oregon Congressman Peter DeFazio said there is federal legislation being crafted requiring GMO labeling, as well as a proposal that would make labeling voluntary only. DeFazio said most Americans want to know what is in their food.  

DeFazio: "There is no independent testing that shows that GMO's are safe. The only testing that has been done has been done by the manufactures, the creators, of these GMO's. So that's a concern."

OSPIRG obtained more than 4,000 signatures from students wanting store chains to label products with GMOs.

copyright, 2014 KLCC