Candidates' positions are categorized as Pro (Yes), Con (No), Not Clearly Pro or Con, or None Found. Candidates who have changed their positions are listed as Now their most recent position. Candidates are listed by party and in alphabetical order by last name. Black & white photos indicate candidates who have withdrawn or who no longer meet our criteria for inclusion.
Should genetically modified foods have mandatory labeling?
Gary Johnson, former Governor of New Mexico, issued the following statement through his Communications Director, Joe Hunter, in a July 9, 2012 email to ProCon.org:
"While I generally resist the idea of government mandates, public safety is a legitimate government function. For many people, certain food ingredients can do serious harm, and knowing what is in food is absolutely essential. For example, I have celiac disease, and absent adequate labeling, I cannot risk eating foods that may have gluten. For millions of Americans in similar situations, knowing what we are eating is not a matter of preference or convenience; rather, it is an issue of basic safety." July 9, 2012 Gary Johnson
Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States, made the following statement on Nov. 10, 2007, during the 2007 Food and Family Farm Presidential Summit in Des Moines, IA, hosted by the Iowa Farmers Union, available at www.fooddemocracynow.org:
"Here is what I will do as president... we will let folks know whether their food has been genetically modified because Americans should know what they are buying." Nov. 10, 2007 Barack Obama
[Editor's Note: In 2009 President Obama appointed Michael Taylor as Senior Advisor to the Commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration. Michael Taylor had formerly served as the Vice President for Public Policy at Monsanto from 1998 to 2001. Monsanto is the nation’s leading developer of genetically modified plant seed. Taylor began his career with the FDA in 1976.]
Jill Stein, MD, former Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, stated the following on Aug. 28, 2002, on her 2002 gubernatorial campaign website jillwill.org, on the page titled "Labeling Food Accurately," available at www.web.archive.org:
"We can provide adequate warning labels for toxic contaminants in food and for genetically-modified ingredients. Consumers have a right to know what is in the food they are purchasing." Aug. 28, 2002 Jill Stein
Ron Paul, US Representative (R-TX), provided the following statement on Feb. 26, 2008, "Genetically Engineered Food," available at vote-tx.org:
"The federal government lacks constitutional authority to mandate labeling of products containing genetically-modified food. Furthermore, those who do not wish to consume genetically-modified products should be leery of federally-mandated labeling because history shows that federal regulatory agencies are susceptible to 'capture,' where the regulators end up serving the interest of the business they are supposed to control. In the case of labeling, federal agencies could redefine the meaning of 'modified' to allow genetically-engineered food on the market without fully-informing consumers of the presence of genetically- engineered ingredients. Instead of federal regulation, consumers should demand that manufactures provide full information and refuse to buy those products that are not fully labeled. Once producers see there is a demand for non-genetically-engineered products they will act to fulfill that demand. Of course, makers of genetically-engineered food should be held legally responsible if they fraudulently market their products or harm anyone." Feb. 26, 2008 Ron Paul