Food Labels
Dozens of Vermont Public Interest Research Group organizers on Thursday celebrated the group’s largest-ever summer outreach campaign. VPIRG canvassers went door-to-door in cities and towns and villages throughout Vermont and collected about 30,000 signatures in support of legislation to require labels on food that contain genetically modified organisms. Sen. Bernie Sanders, who introduced legislation in Washington to make it clear that states have the right to require GMO food labels, spoke to the young volunteers outside the Statehouse in Montpelier. “The truth of matter is that labeling of GMOs is not radical concept. It's done throughout Europe and dozens and dozens of countries throughout world, so if people tell you it can't be done – it's too complicated – they're not telling you the truth,” the senator said.
Leah Marsters, one of VPIRG’s canvas directors, talked about the importance of taking the campaign to people throughout Vermont. “It’s hard to overstate the importance of direct, face-to-face conversations with people, especially in an age of non-stop social media,” she said. “You learn a lot about what matters to people if you take the time to talk with them, and collectively we’ve talked with about 50,000 Vermonters over the past 14 weeks. One thing we’ve learned for sure is that Vermonters believe they have a right to know about GMOs.”
