A new bill to deny consumers the right to know if their food contains genetically modified ingredients, or GMOs, was released by Senator Pat Roberts of Kansas on Friday. 

“Senator Roberts’ ridiculous new version of the DARK Act would deny us the right to know what’s in our food and how it’s grown—the same right held by consumers in 64 other nations,” says food advocate and Food Policy Action co-founder Tom Colicchio. "Consumers should be trusted to decide their own food choices, but Senator Roberts apparently thinks Washington knows best. This is exactly the sort of crony capitalism that voters across the country are rejecting.” 

Food Policy Action’s Chef Tom Colicchio is urging chefs to weigh in against the Senate version of the Deny Americans the Right to Know (DARK) Act. The new petition launched calls on chefs across the country to use their collective voice to let Congress know that they reject this giveaway to the processed food industry. Rather than delivering the mandatory GMO labeling information that the majority of consumers want, this legislation would cause further confusion and tie the hands of states to enact the GMO labeling laws approved by their voters.  

Just 48 hours after Chef Colicchio asked chefs to weigh in with opposition to the Senate’s new version of the DARK Act, Food Policy Action’s petition has been signed by 2,000 chefs and food professionals from 37 states. 

“Consumers in 64 other countries have the right to know whether the food they buy contains GMOs, and consumers in the United States should have that same choice. Senator Roberts’ outrageous new bill is exactly the kind of anti-transparency measure that voters across the country are rejecting,” Colicchio says. 

The chefs’ petition to Congress reads: "As chefs, we have a fundamental right to know what's in the food we cook and serve to our customers. We urge you to reject any attempt to prevent the mandatory labeling of genetically modified food."