For related articles and more information, please visit OCA’s Genetic Engineering page, Politics and Democracy page, Food Safety page, Environment and Climate Resource page, Organic Transitions page, and our Health Issues page.

WASHINGTON  — A coalition of organizations, businesses and individuals announced today a bold mobilization plan to raise awareness and pressure the government about the lack of labeling of Genetically Engineered foods people unknowingly consume.  Such foods are also termed “Genetically Modified Organisms” or “GMOs.”  The GMO Right2Know March will feature daily events between New York and Washington, D.C., October 1-16 as thousands of marchers are expected to walk part or all of the 313 miles from the United Nations’ Headquarters to the White House.  The marchers are looking for support from communities along the route which can be viewed at Right2KnowMarch.org. 

“Pesticide companies develop Genetically Engineered food crops by combining DNA from plants, animals, bacteria and viruses, to contain or resist pesticide, which results in more pesticides sold and sprayed,”  says Michael Hansen, Chief Scientist of Consumers Union.  “Genetically engineered foods can be detrimental to our health, just as they are to the environment and farmers’ livelihoods.  American consumers deserve the choice whether they want to eat GMOs, just like their counterparts in Europe and Japan,” says Hansen who will join kick off of the March on October 1 at the United Nations in New York.

The March will rally in a broad swath of East Coast cities and towns including:

New York:  Brooklyn, New York City

New Jersey:  Jersey City, Newark, Millburn, Union, Springfield, Scotch Plains, New Brunswick, Princeton

Pennsylvania:  Morrisville, Trevose, Jenkintown, Philadelphia, Springfield

Delaware:  Wilmington, Hockessin, Newark

Maryland:  Darlington, Monkton, Timonium, Baltimore, Elicott City, Jessup, Laurel, College Park, Takoma Park

Washington, D.C.

Early supporting organizations include the International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements (IFOAM), Non-GMO Project, Center for Food Safety, Food Democracy Now, National Co-operative Grocer Association, Organic Trade Association, The Organic Center, the Independent Natural Food Retailers Association (INFRA), Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance, and the Northeast Organic Farmers Association of NY.  Business sponsors include [alphabetical] Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps, Kamut International, Nutiva, Nature’s Path Foods, Inc., Organic Valley, Rapunzel, Stonyfield Farm, and United Natural Foods Inc.

“While most Americans agree we have a right to know what is in our food, the federal government has resisted labeling genetically engineered food for over a decade,” says Right2Know March organizer Katherine DiMatteo, President of IFOAM.   “It’s time to demand that the government be responsible to its citizens and enact mandatory labeling of GMOs instead of pretending that GMO crops are the same as traditional crops.”

In New York, Washington, D.C. and along the route, advocates, farmers and business leaders including Vandana Shiva, Percy and Louis Schmeiser, Andrew Kimbrell, Frances Moore Lappe, Anna Lappe, Sara, Snow, Dr. Alan Greene, Joseph Wilhelm, Michael Funk, Megan Westgate, David Bronner, Ashley Koff, RD and many others are expected to join in the coming months to speak out for GMO Labeling and to inspire citizens to take action to protect themselves and the future of farming.