Earlier this week, Chef Tom Colicchio asked chefs across the country to sign a petition opposing legislation introduced Feb. 19 that wouldn't require states to mandate labels on genetically engineered foods. Since then, more than 2,000 chefs and food professionals have signed, including 15 from Atlanta and 78 total from Georgia.
Chefs including Woolery Back of Table & Main, Alex Brounstein of Grindhouse Killer Burgers and Laura Orellana of Osteria Mattone all signed the petition, which 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."
The House Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act -- dubbed the DARK Act (Deny Americans the Right to Know) by critics, including Colicchio -- was passed last July, blocking states from requiring labeling on genetically modified crops.
“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 said in an email statement.
Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.), who authored the July bill, told The Hill, "Precisely zero pieces of credible evidence have been presented that foods produced with biotechnology pose any risk to our health and safety. We should not raise prices on consumers based on the wishes of a handful of activists."
The Senate Agriculture Committee will consider the bill this week.
Colicchio, who appeared on "Top Chef," also previously owned Craft and Craft Bar in Atlanta.
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