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# Whose side are they on?
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/gmo_labeling_0706160730/
- Published: 2016-07-06T08:28:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T16:30:57.000Z
- Description: An action alert asking readers to fax senators before a vote on S. 764, the Stabenow-Roberts GMO labeling bill. It cites the FDA's critique of the bill and argues QR-code labeling shuts out the third of Americans without smartphones, mostly rural, low-income and older people.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Politics, #vivvo-import

| [](http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=XK2xqBWk7odFI0mlr%2B%2BE0Iu%2BuXSYtRb2&ref=foodconsumer.org)[Fax your Senators the Facts:  The DARK Act is a Sham!](http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=%2FfpEwuDsbFUajRXADny8x4u%2BuXSYtRb2&ref=foodconsumer.org) |
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**In 24 hours the Senate will vote again on the fake GMO labeling bill (S. 764)** from Senators Stabenow (D-MI) and Roberts (R-KS). Your Senators need to hear from you that you expect them to vote NO tomorrow!

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sent Congress a scathing critique of the labeling law, calling the bill out for its weak language and lack of enforcement. FDA even notes that many, perhaps even most, current GMO foods wouldn't even get labeled under the bill!

[**Fax the facts! Help us tell Senators we need a strong, mandatory labeling law that relies on words on the package, not high-tech gimmicks.**](http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=60xgAhYM9%2B1nikURsl%2B3UYu%2BuXSYtRb2&ref=foodconsumer.org)

This bill creates a GMO labeling scheme that will immediately override the state GMO labeling laws passed in Vermont, Connecticut and Maine, but will not require any labeling for 2 years, while USDA comes up with some vague labeling standard using discriminatory QR codes, websites or 800 numbers.

Big Ag and food companies have made it clear which option they support for labeling: QR codes. They know consumers don’t use these codes and that “labeling” via QR codes is really no labeling all. 

**Only 64% of Americans own a smartphone**.1 That means that **more than a third of all Americans will not be able to access GMO information** if products are labeled with QR codes. Moreover, **those left out are disproportionately low income and those living in rural areas**. According to Pew Research Center, **only 50% of low income people in the U.S. own a smartphone**; only **52% of rural Americans**own a smartphone; and only **27% of seniors** own a smartphone.2 Even those who do own smartphones are not guaranteed consistent access to the internet.3 **At the end of the day, a substantial majority of Americans would be deprived of their right to know** if GMO labeling were done through QR codes.

**Last week the bill passed its first legislative hurdle—in what was essentially a test vote—by a vote of 68-29\. The bill is up for a second procedural vote TOMORROW.**   

[**You’ve emailed, you’ve called, you’ve tweeted…what’s left? Let’s flood their faxes with facts!** ](http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=ofIc3Hly0P9UbeLOPoWGKIu%2BuXSYtRb2&ref=foodconsumer.org)

Thanks for standing up for our right to know,  
The Center for Food Safety team

**P.S. – Want to go the extra mile? Fax** [**a graphic**](http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=lm1%2F9lQdnTgNlEv57Sforou%2BuXSYtRb2&ref=foodconsumer.org) **to your Senators for free through** [**Fax Zero**](http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=4RDBqdLYAxQsfQV6GhpxZYu%2BuXSYtRb2&ref=foodconsumer.org)**.** Just [download this document](http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=RyDD5AAKZsJ4gtkZAOZpGYu%2BuXSYtRb2&ref=foodconsumer.org), go to[https://faxzero.com/fax\_senate.php](http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=QA9v0BHn%2FZ07ECPVvLboTYu%2BuXSYtRb2&ref=foodconsumer.org), choose the Senator you’d like to fax, enter your contact information, upload the document and enter any personal comments you want to include (optional) in the cover sheet box. Then just choose “send free fax now” at the bottom. Check your email to confirm your send (this step is important – it won’t send the fax unless you confirm via email). Done!

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More Info:  
1\. [http://www.agriculture.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Mandatory%20Labeling%20Bill.pdf](http://www.agriculture.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Mandatory%20Labeling%20Bill.pdf?ref=foodconsumer.org)   
2\. [http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/04/01/us-smartphone-use-in-2015/](http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/04/01/us-smartphone-use-in-2015/?ref=foodconsumer.org)   
3\. [http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/04/01/chapter-one-a-portrait-of-smartphone-ownership/](http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/04/01/chapter-one-a-portrait-of-smartphone-ownership/?ref=foodconsumer.org)   
4\. [http://www.zdnet.com/article/the-state-of-lte-4g-networks-worldwide-in-2014-and-the-poor-performance-of-the-us/](http://www.zdnet.com/article/the-state-of-lte-4g-networks-worldwide-in-2014-and-the-poor-performance-of-the-us/?ref=foodconsumer.org)

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