Wouldn't it be nice to pick up a jar, can, package or whatever of food in the supermarket, turn it over to look at the ingredients and instantly find out if it contains any genetically engineered ingredients, aka GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms)?

Well, so do the people who’ve organized The “GMO Right2Kknow March” and who will descend on Washington, D.C on Oct. 16.  Their plan is to raise awareness and pressure the government to require labeling on the GMO foods that most of us unknowingly consume—like most processed foods containing corn, soy, canola or cottonseed oil. 

Actually, the 313 mile march will begin Oct. 1 at the United Nations in New York.  From there it will meander south through various towns and cities in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland picking up marchers along the way.  You can see the route here.

Currently, the Food And Drug Administration says that GMO foods do not need to be labeled as such since, according to its policy, “The agency is not aware of any information showing that foods derived by these new methods differ from other foods in any meaningful or uniform way, or…present any different or greater safety concern than foods developed by traditional plant breeding.”

And therein lies the problem says Michael Hansen, Chief Scientist of Consumers Union. In a press release announcing the march, he says, “Genetically engineered foods can be detrimental to our health, just as they are to the environment and farmers’ livelihoods. American consumers deserve the choice whether they want to eat GMOs…”

The organizations supporting the march include a who’s who of organic and food policy advocates including Texas’ own Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance.  Other groups include the International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements, Non-GMO Project, Center for Food Safety, Food Democracy Now, National Co-operative Grocer Association, Organic Trade Association, The Organic Center, the Independent Natural Food Retailers Association (INFRA)  and the Northeast Organic Farmers Association of NY. Business sponsors include Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps, Kamut International, Nutiva, Nature’s Path Foods, Inc., Organic Valley, Rapunzel, Stonyfield Farm, and United Natural Foods Inc.

For more information on the march call the Right2Know March Hotline: 202.557.5164 or email erica@right2knowmarch.org .

You can find more info on GMO foods and a downloadable list of non-GMO foods on the Center for Food Safety’s True Food Network site.