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U.S. Senate Advances Controversial GMO Labeling Bill

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Products labeled with Non Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) are sold at the Lassens Natural Foods & Vitamins store in Los Feliz district of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)
Products labeled with Non Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) are sold at the Lassens Natural Foods & Vitamins store in Los Feliz district of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

The Senate on Wednesday voted 65-32 in favor of a bill requiring a label for foods that contain genetically modified ingredients. The bill still needs approval from the House. It would supersede several state laws with stricter GMO labeling requirements, such as a bill that went into effect in Vermont this month.

Advocates of the organic food industry are upset with the bill because it does not spell out how the government would enforce the new labeling requirements, and because it exempts some ingredients, including oil derived from genetically modified crops.

NPR's Dan Charles talks to Here & Now's Jeremy Hobson about the bill.

Guest

Dan Charles, NPR food and agriculture correspondent and author of "Lords of the Harvest: Biotech, Big Money, and the Future of Food." He tweets at @nprDanCharles.

This segment aired on July 7, 2016.

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