For related articles and information, please visit OCA’s Genetic Engineering page, Millions Against Monsanto page and our All About Organics page.

The Organic Consumer’s Association (OCA), is calling on the organic dairy industry to cut ties with the IDFA (International Dairy Foods Association) because it is one of several trade associations suing Vermont over its GMO labeling mandate.

The organic dairy industry includes Stonyfield, Organic Valley, Aurora Organic, and White Wave/Horizon Organic, who are all members of the IDFA.

‘Take a stand’

In an open letter dated July 23, Ronnie Cummins, national director, OCA, asks recipients to ‘take a stand’ by ‘immediately withdrawing your company’s membership from the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA and/or the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA)’.

“US consumers have been engaged in a long and costly battle with corporations, trade associations and lobbying groups for the right to know whether or not their food has been genetically engineered,” he said.

“It is bad enough the GMA and its corporate members have spent millions to defeat state laws and citizens’ initiatives that would require mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods and foods containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs)”.

“Now the GMA, joined by the IDFA, wants Congress and/or the federal courts to deny states the basic right to pass GMO labeling laws, supported by the overwhelming majority of their residents.”

In May, Vermont became the first state to pass a law requiring a label for foods made with genetically engineered ingredients. In June, the same trade groups that successfully crushed similar efforts in other states filed a suit against Vermont’s law.