Press Releases
Groups representing millions of consumers condemn OTA’s role in passing the DARK Act
FINLAND, Minn. – About 60 organizations representing millions of U.S. consumers are calling for companies to withdraw from the Organic Trade Association (OTA) in protest over the OTA’s role in passing a federal law that nullified Vermont’s mandatory GMO labeling law.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands—The organizers of the International Monsanto Tribunal today named two additional judges and also announced the programs for both the Tribunal and the People’s Assembly.
Consumer and Animal Protection Advocates Allege Eggs Do Not Meet Consumer Expectations
OCA, along with the Animal Legal Defense Fund and The Richman Law Group, filed a lawsuit against egg retailer Handsome Brook Farm. The lawsuit alleges Handsome Brook Farm has been selling eggs labeled as “pasture raised” that fall far short of consumer expectations for this term—thus violating the D.C. Consumer Protection Procedures Act. The misleading labels also undercut the market for truly pasture-raised eggs.
“There is raised awareness about the treatment of animals in the food industry, and consumers are willing to pay higher prices for more humane eggs,” says Animal Legal Defense Fund Executive Director Stephen Wells. “It is vital that labels accurately represent the products, so that consumers know what they are supporting with their dollars.”
“Consumers have the right to expect that food labels will accurately reflect the ingredients and the production methods described by those labels,” said OCA International Director Ronnie Cummins. “When corporations make false claims on their packaging, consumers are deceived, and honest producers are cheated. It’s our job to call them out on behalf of consumers.”
General Mills claims that its Nature Valley granola bars are “Made with 100% Natural Whole Grain Oats.” Given that claim, and given that there are no commercially grown genetically engineered oats (at least, not yet), you’d naturally expect Nature Valley granola bars to be free of glyphosate, right?
You would be wrong. Testing by an independent laboratory reveals that Nature Valley granola bars do indeed contain glyphosate, the key (and cancer-causing) ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup.
We thought you’d like to know. We also thought you’d agree that General Mills should be forced to stop deceiving you and millions of other consumers.
So today, OCA and our allies, Beyond Pesticides and Moms Across America, sued the junk food giant and its Nature Valley subsidiary for violating the District of Columbia Consumer Protection Procedures Act (“DC CPPA”), D.C. Code §§ 28-3901, et seq. by making “false and misleading representations and omissions” about its Nature Valley products.
FINLAND, Minn. The Organic Consumers Association (OCA) today called on US consumers to join the nearly 500,000 people who have already signed up to boycott brands that refuse to label products that contain genetically engineered ingredients.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands—The International Monsanto Tribunal has officially invited Monsanto to participate in the citizens’ tribunal which will be held October 15-16 in The Hague, Netherlands. The letter, sent via registered mail from Amsterdam, was declined.
Monsanto was given until October 1, 2016 to submit a written brief and/or to respond to the Tribunal’s invitation to send legal representation to The Hague.
Washington, D.C.—On Friday at 1 p.m., right-to-know activists representing more than 100 organizations will deliver petitions, signed by nearly 250,000 people, to President Barack Obama at the White House.
The petitions ask the President to veto S. 764, a bill known as the DARK Act because it would Deny Americans the Right to Know about GMO foods.
“Today, Congress trampled on consumer and states’ rights, choosing instead serve the interests of Monsanto and the Grocery Manufacturers Association,” said Ronnie Cummins, international director of OCA.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands—The organizers of the International Monsanto Tribunal today announced the installation of three international judges who will co-chair the citizens’ tribunal, scheduled for October 15-16 in The Hague, Netherlands.
The three judges are: Ms. Dior Fall Sow, Senegal, a former advocate general at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda; Ms. Francoise Tulkens, Belgium, a former vice-president at the European Court of Human Rights; and Mr. Upendra Baxi, India, former president of the Indian Society of International Law.
Dr. Jackson Nyamuya Maogoto (UK), a lawyer who will participate in the Tribunal said, “The International Monsanto Tribunal will serve to resurrect the Nuremberg legacy, ‘remind’ and re-energize the international law framework— business actors can be involved in international crimes.”
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) are pushing an industry supported bill that is known as the DARK Act because it would "Deny Americans the Right to Know" about foods produced with genetic engineering ("GMOs"). The DARK Act would replace Vermont’s comprehensive GMO labeling law with future federal regulations riddled with loopholes and conveyed through discriminatory technologies.
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