Posted June 24, 2014
Vermont is preparing to defend the nation’s first law requiring food manufacturers to label products containing genetically engineered ingredients, according to a Brattleboro Reformer article by John Herrick available here. A recent blog post on the costs associated with labeling is available here.
The Grocery Manufacturers Association and other national trade groups sued the state last week, arguing that the law is unconstitutional, and hired law firm Hogan Lovells, which is a global firm.
“We’re going to fight fire with fire,” Vermont Attorney General Bill Sorrell said in an interview Thursday.
Sorrell said that it would cost $1 million to win the case, but $8 million or more to lose, and that hiring outside counsel would increase the anticipated cost.
Since the trade groups filed suit last week, Vermont has almost doubled the size of its private donation-funded litigation trust fund, and has rained about $33,00 through the online legal defense fund.
About two-thirds was from out-of-state contributions as of last week.
The recent increase could also be a result of Ben and Jerry’s promotion of the law. The Vermont ice cream company created a new flavor “Food Fight Fudge Brownie,” which donates $1 for every scoop sold at the state locations.
For more information on food labeling, please visit the National Agricultural Law Center’s website here.
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