Hawaii Senate defers GMO food labeling bill

From Yahoo! News:

The agricultural industry has won a victory in the Hawaii Senate.

The Hawaii Senate committees on agriculture, consumer protection and health agreed Thursday to table a proposal that would have required labels on imported genetically modified food.

Sen. Rosalyn Baker, chairwoman of the consumer protection committee, says lawmakers are worried about how labeling might hurt the island's food industry. She says instead of a bill, senators are going to push a resolution to ensure that more research is done about genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Clarence Nishihara says the bill takes a thoughtful approach to an issue that could have wide-ranging impacts.

But the decision was a disappointment for dozens of students, concerned mothers and Native Hawaiians who entreated lawmakers to approve the bill, saying it is an issue of consumer choice.

Nomi Carmona, head of the nonprofit Babes Against Biotech, said after the hearing that she thinks the lawmakers are being influenced by lobbyists from the agricultural industry.

But members of the industry say activists like Carmona are spreading falsehoods and fear.

"Please don't give into the fear mongers and conspiracy theorists," Alan Gotlieb of the Hawaii Cattlemen's Council told senators.

Read the full story here.