WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republican efforts to stop mandatory labeling of genetically modified foods have stalled.
The Senate on Wednesday fell short of the necessary numbers to move ahead on legislation that would have barred states from requiring the labeling.
Vermont is set to require such labels this summer, and other states are considering similar laws.
The procedural vote is a setback for the food industry, which has lobbied to block Vermont's law.
The industry argues that genetically modified organisms — or GMOs — are safe and that the labels could be costly for agriculture, food companies and consumers.
Congressional Republicans have opposed a patchwork of state laws and worked to find a solution on the issue before Vermont's law kicks in.
