"Bill Seeks To Block Mandatory GMO Food Labeling By States"

"A Republican congressman from Kansas introduced legislation on Wednesday that would nullify efforts in multiple states to require labeling of genetically modified foods.

The bill, dubbed the "Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act," was drafted by U.S. Rep. Mike Pompeo and is aimed at overriding bills in about two dozen states that would require foods made with genetically engineered crops to be labeled as such.

The bill specifically prohibits any mandatory labeling of foods developed using bioengineering.

'We've got a number of states that are attempting to put together a patchwork quilt of food labeling requirements with respect to genetic modification of foods,' said Pompeo. 'That makes it enormously difficult to operate a food system. Some of the campaigns in some of these states aren't really to inform consumers but rather aimed at scaring them. What this bill attempts to do is set a standard.'"

Carey Gillam reports for Reuters April 10, 2014.