April 28, 2015

Honorable Members of the U.S. House of Representatives:

We are writing on behalf of the Coalition for Safe and Affordable Food about a significant development that could impact American consumers, businesses, farmers and food manufacturers. At a time when legislative consensus is hard to come by, it is notable that substantial bipartisan support is building behind a national, voluntary food labeling standard for products containing ingredients derived from genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Representatives Mike Pompeo (R-KS) and G.K. Butterfield (D-NC) have introduced H.R. 1599, the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act — bipartisan legislation that will ensure food labeling in the United States is uniform and science-based. The March 25 bill introduction came one day after the House Committee on Agriculture held a hearing on the critical role of biotechnology in the advancement and sustainability of American farming.

Today interest groups across the country are pushing state-level labeling mandates that will exacerbate consumer confusion and drive up food prices. Instead of informing consumers, these state initiatives are filled with loopholes, exempting as much as two-thirds of foods. The result will be higher food prices for hard working American families – as much as $500 a year for a family of four, according to a study by Cornell University Professor William Lesseri.

By putting a stop to the patchwork of state-based labeling requirements, the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act will protect consumers from unpredictable price variations and protect farmers and food manufacturers from having to contend with inconsistent and costly regulations.

GMOs have been an important part of our nation’s food supply for the past 20 years, and 70-80 percent of the foods people eat in the United States contain ingredients that have been genetically engineered. In addition, the leading health and regulatory bodies in the world, from the World Health Organization to the American Medical Association, have all concluded GMOs are safe.

The Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act will give consumers, farmers, and small businesses certainty. The proposed legislation also would improve clarity for foods carrying a GMO-free label and provide uniform rules by creating a national certification program for foods that have been produced without bioengineering.

We encourage you to consider cosponsoring H.R. 1599, the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act and support its adoption – and we would be pleased to talk with you or provide any information on this issue. We believe that it is imperative that Congress pass a bipartisan bill this year to ensure people across our nation continue to have access to consistent science- based standards for food labeling.

Sincerely,

AACC International Agricultural Council of Arkansas AgriBank, FCB Agricultural Council of California Agribusiness Council of Indiana Agricultural Retailers Association

AgriGrowth Bunge North America Inc. Agri-Mark, Inc. Calcot, Ltd. Alabama Farmers Cooperative, Inc. California Association of Winegrape Growers Alabama Farmers Federation California Beet Growers Alabama Soybean and Corn Association California Canning Peach Association Alaska Farm Bureau California Farm Bureau Amalgamated Sugar Company (ID, OR, WA) California Grain & Feed Association American Agri-Women California League of Food Processors American Bakers Association California Seed Association American Beverage Association California-Nevada Beverage Association American Crystal Sugar Company (MN, ND) Cargill Inc. American Farm Bureau Federation Caudill Seed Company, Inc. American Feed Industry Association Ceres Solutions, LLP American Frozen Food Institute Chemistry Council of New Jersey American Fruit and Vegetable Processors and Growers CHS Inc Coalition Co-Alliance LLP American Phytopathological Society CoBank American Seed Trade Association Colorado Association of Distributors American Society of Sugar Beet Technologists Colorado Association of Wheat Growers American Soybean Association Colorado Bioscience Association American Sugarbeet Growers Association Colorado Corn Growers Association Ameriflax Colorado Dairy Farmers AMPI Colorado Farm Bureau Arizona Beverage Association Colorado Potato Legislative Association Arizona Cotton Growers Association Colorado Seed Industry Association Arizona Farm Bureau Colorado Sugarbeet Growers Arkansas Beverage Association Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey Arkansas Farm Bureau ConAgra Foods, Inc. Arkansas Seed Dealers Association Congressional Hunger Center Arkansas Soybean Association Connecticut Bioscience Growth Council Associated Oregon Industries Cooperative Milk Producers Association Barrel O’ Fun Snack Foods Corn Growers Association of North Carolina BASF Corporation Corn Producers Association of Texas Bayer CropScience, LP Corn Refiners Association Beet Sugar Development Foundation Council for Responsible Nutrition Better Made Snack Foods, Inc. CropLife America Beverage Association of Dairy Farmers of America Big Horn Basin Beet Growers (WY) Delaware Farm Bureau Big Horn County Sugar Beet Growers (MT) Delaware-Maryland Agribusiness Association BIOForward Dow AgroSciences Bioscience Association of North Dakota DSM Nutritional Products Biotechnology Industry Organization DuPont Blue Diamond Growers Elwyhee Beet Growers (ID)

Empire State Potato Growers Inc. (NY) Illinois Seed Trade Association Equity Cooperative Livestock Sales Association Illinois Soybean Association Exotic Wildlife Association Independent Bakers Association Farmers Cooperative Creamery Independent Professional Seed Association FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative Indiana Chamber of Commerce First District Association Indiana Corn Growers Association Flavor & Extract Manufacturers Association Indiana Farm Bureau Florida Beverage Association Indiana Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Florida Farm Bureau Association Florida Feed Association, Inc. Indiana Seed Trade Association Florida Fertilizer & Agrichemical Association Indiana Soybean Alliance Florida Seed Association, Inc. Infant Nutrition Council of America Food Industry Alliance of New York State International Dairy Foods Association Foremost Farms USA International Franchise Association Furmano’s Iowa Corn Growers Association General Mills Inc. Iowa Farm Bureau Georgia Beverage Association Iowa Institute for Cooperatives Georgia Cattlemen's Association Iowa Seed Association Georgia Cotton Commission Iowa Soybean Association Georgia Farm Bureau Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association Georgia-Florida Soybean Association Kansas Beverage Association Global Cold Chain Alliance Kansas Cooperative Council Global Harvest Initiative Kansas Corn Growers Association Grain and Feed Association of Illinois Kansas Farm Bureau Great Plains Canola Association Kansas Grain & Feed Association Grocery Manufacturers Association Kansas Soybean Association GROWMARK, Inc Kellogg Company Harvey County Farm Bureau Beverage Association Hawaii Crop Improvement Association Kentucky Farm Bureau Hoosier Beverage Association Kentucky Life Science Council House-Autry Mills Kentucky Soybean Association Idaho Eastern-Oregon Seed Association Kitchen Cooked, Inc. Idaho Farm Bureau Kraft Foods Group, Inc. Idaho Grain Producers Association Land O'Lakes, Inc. Idaho Grower Shippers Association LifeScience Alley Idaho Potato Commission Louisiana Farm Bureau Idaho Soft Drink Association, Inc. Louisiana Soybean Association Idaho Sugar Beet Growers Maine Beverage Association Illinois Beverage Association Maine Potato Board Illinois Corn Growers Association Maryland and Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Illinois Farm Bureau Association Illinois Manufacturers' Association Maryland Farm Bureau Illinois Retail Merchants Association Maryland Grain Producers Association

Massachusetts Beverage Association National Association of Manufacturers Massachusetts Biotechnology Council National Association of Wheat Growers McCormick & Company Inc. National Barley Growers Association MD/DC/DE Beverage Association National Confectioners Association MichBio National Corn Growers Association Michigan Agri-Business Association National Cotton Council Michigan Bean Commission National Council of Farmer Cooperatives Michigan Corn Growers Association National Fisheries Institute Michigan Farm Bureau National Grain & Feed Association Michigan Food and Beverage Association National Grape Cooperative Association, Inc. Michigan Manufacturers Association National Milk Producers Federation Michigan Milk Producers Association National Oilseed Processors Association Michigan Soft Drink Association National Potato Council Michigan Soybean Association National Restaurant Association Michigan Sugar Company National Turkey Federation Mid Kansas Cooperative Association NEBCO Beet Growers (NE/CO) Mid-Atlantic Soybean Association Nebraska Cooperative Council Midwest Food Processors Association Nebraska Corn Growers Association Midwest Forage Association Nebraska Dry Bean Commission Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative (MN/ND) Nebraska Farm Bureau Minnesota AgriGrowth Council Nebraska Grain and Feed Association Minnesota Beverage association Nebraska Soybean Association Minnesota Canola Council Nebraska Sugarbeet Growers Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Nevada Farm Bureau Minnesota Corn Growers Association New England Biotech Association Minnesota Crop Production Retailers New Hampshire Farm Bureau Minnesota Farm Bureau New Mexico Farm Bureau Minnesota Grain and Feed Association New York Corn and Soybean Growers Association Minnesota Soybean Growers Association New York Farm Bureau Mississippi Farm Bureau New York State Agribusiness Association Mississippi Soybean Association New York State Grange Missouri Agribusiness Association North American Millers Association Missouri Beverage Association North Carolina Beverage Association Missouri Corn Growers Association North Carolina Cotton Producers Association Missouri Farm Bureau North Carolina Farm Bureau Missouri Soybean Association North Carolina Potato Association Mondelez International North Carolina Soybean Producers Association Monsanto Company North Carolina Sweet Potato Commission Montana Beverage Association North Dakota Corn Growers Association Montana Grain Growers Association North Dakota Farm Bureau Federation Montana-Dakota Beet Growers (MT/ND) North Dakota Grain Dealers Association National Agricultural Aviation Association North Dakota Soybean Growers Association National Alfalfa & Forage Alliance Northarvest Bean Growers Association

Northeast Dairy Foods Association Savor Seasonings, LLC Northern Canola Growers Association Select Milk Producers, Inc. Northwest Dairy Association/Darigold, Inc. Shearer's Foods, LLC Northwest Food Processors Association Sidney Sugars Incorporated (MT) Northwest Grocery Association Snack Food Association Nyssa-Nampa Sugarbeet Growers (ID/OR) South Carolina Beverage Association Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. South Carolina Farm Bureau AgriBusiness Association South Carolina Soybean Association Ohio Corn and Wheat Growers Association South Dakota Agri-Business Association Ohio Dairy Producers Association South Dakota Association of Cooperatives Ohio Farm Bureau South Dakota Farm Bureau Ohio Manufacturers' Association South Dakota Grain & Feed Association Ohio Soft Drink Association South Dakota Soybean Association Ohio Soybean Association South Dakota Wheat Growers Oklahoma Agricultural Cooperative Council, Inc South Texas Cotton & Grain Association Oklahoma Grain & Feed Association Southeast Milk, Inc. Oklahoma Seed Trade Association Southern Cotton Growers, Inc. Oklahoma Soybean Association Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative Oregon BioScience Association Southern Montana Sugarbeet Growers Oregon Cherry Growers, Inc. Southern Rolling Plains Cotton Growers Association Oregon Farm Bureau Southern States Cooperative Oregon Feed and Grain Association St. Alban's Cooperative Creamery Oregon Retail Council Tennessee Cattlemen's Association Oregon Seed Association Tennessee Dairy Producers Pacific Coast Producers Tennessee Farm Bureau Pacific Seed Association Tennessee Pork Producers Association Beverage Association Tennessee Poultry Association Pennsylvania Corn Growers Association Tennessee Soybean Association Pennsylvania Farm Bureau Texas Grain & Feed Association Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association Texas Poultry Federation PepsiCo, Inc. Texas Seed Trade Association Plains Cotton Growers, Inc. Texas Soybean Association Potato Growers of Michigan, Inc. Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc. The Coca-Cola Company Pretzels, Inc. The Hershey Company Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers (ND/MN) The J.M. Smucker Company Retail Association of Nevada U.S. Beet Sugar Association Retailers Association of Massachusetts U.S. Canola Association Rhode Island Beverage Association U.S. Dry Bean Council Rhode Island Farm Bureau Unilever Rocky Mountain Food Industry Association United Dairymen of Arizona Rolling Plains Cotton Growers, Inc. United Potato Growers of America Rudolph Foods Utah Beverage Association

Utah Food Industry Association Western Plant Health Association Utah Retail Merchants Association Western Sugar Cooperative (CO, MT, NE, WY) Utz Quality Foods Wisconsin Agri-Business Association Farm Bureau Wisconsin Beverage Association Virginia Beverage Association Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation Virginia Farm Bureau Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce Virginia Soybean Association Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association Washington Biotechnology & Biomedical Association Wisconsin Soybean Association Washington Farm Bureau Wisconsin Technology Council Washington Friends of Farms & Forests Wise Foods Washington State Council of Farmer Cooperatives Wyandot, Inc. Washington State Potato Commission Wyoming Sugar Company Welch Foods Inc. Wyoming Sugar Growers ###

i http://dyson.cornell.edu/people/profiles/docs/LabelingNY.pdf