RELIABLE.
NONPARTISAN.
EMPOWERING.

  • HOME
  • 2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION - MENU
    • 2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION - HOME
    • GET STARTED
      • Quiz - Find Your Candidate Match! Compare Candidate Positions Side-by-Side
    • ISSUES AND CANDIDATE STATEMENTS
      • Crime & Justice Economy & Taxes Education Elections Energy Foreign Policy Guns / Second Amendment Health Care, Abortion, & End of Life Issues Immigration Labor & Wages Marijuana & Alcohol Military & War on Terror Race Science & Environment Sex & Gender
    • RECOMMENDED
      • Did You Know? The Electoral College: Top 3 Pros and Cons Pros and Cons of Donald Trump's Cabinet Picks Differences in Conservative and Liberal Brains Candidate Finances Candidate Position Changes US Political Parties Presidential Election History from 1789 to 2012 How to Become the US President: A Step-by-Step Guide Order of Presidential Succession Top 10 Most Surprising Things in the 2016 Presidential Candidates' Online Stores How to Register to Vote
    • DIG DEEPER
      • 2016 Presidential Election Results ProCon.org Criteria for Inclusion as a Presidential Candidate Glossary Jeb Bush - Positions Ben Carson - Positions Chris Christie - Positions Hillary Clinton - Positions Ted Cruz - Positions Carly Fiorina - Positions Lindsey Graham - Positions Mike Huckabee - Positions John Kasich - Positions Martin O'Malley - Positions Rand Paul - Positions Marco Rubio - Positions Bernie Sanders - Positions Donald Trump - Positions 2012 Presidential Election Quiz
  • ISSUES WE COVER
    • MOST POPULAR
      • 2020 Presidential Election
      • Medical Marijuana
      • Gun Control
      • Homework
      • Animal Testing
      • Death Penalty
      • School Uniforms
      • Drinking Age - Lower It?
      • Abortion
      • Zoos
      • Illegal Immigration
    • HEALTH & MEDICINE
      • Medical Marijuana
      • Euthanasia & Assisted Suicide
      • Vaping E-Cigarettes
      • Vaccines for Kids
      • Milk - Is It Healthy?
      • OTC Birth Control
      • Abortion
      • Vegetarianism
      • Obesity a Disease?
      • Obamacare
      • Right to Health Care
      • Prescription Drug Ads
      • Marijuana for Pets
    • EDUCATION
      • School Uniforms
      • Standardized Tests
      • Tablets vs. Textbooks
      • College Education Worth It?
      • Teacher Tenure
      • Student Loan Debt
      • School Vouchers
      • Corporal Punishment
      • Banned Books
      • Homework
      • Free College
      • D.A.R.E (archived 6/3/13)
    • POLITICS
      • Death Penalty
      • Drinking Age - Lower It?
      • Illegal Immigration
      • Gun Control
      • Recreational Marijuana
      • Mandatory National Service
      • ACLU - Good for America?
      • Concealed Handguns
      • Sanctuary Cities
      • Under God in the Pledge
      • DACA & Dreamers
      • Dacota Pipeline
      • WTC Muslim Center (archived 6/3/13)
    • SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
      • Animal Testing
      • Cell Phones Radiation
      • Alternative Energy vs. Fossil Fuels
      • Climate Change
      • Net Nautrality
      • Police Body Cameras
      • Bottled Water Ban
      • Zoos
      • GMOs
    • ELECTIONS & PRESIDENTS
      • 2020 Presidential Election
      • Felon Voting
      • Election Day National Holiday
      • Electoral College
      • Lowering the Voting Age to 16
      • Voting Machines
      • Ronald Reagan
      • Bill Clinton
      • 2008 Presidential Election (archived 1/19/09)
      • 2012 Presidential Election (archived 1/22/13)
      • 2016 Presidential Election (archived 1/21/17)
    • WORLD / INTERNATIONAL
      • Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
      • Cuba Embargo
      • Drone Strikes Overseas
      • Us Drone Shot Down by Iran
      • US-Iraq War (archived 12/31/11)
    • SEX & GENDER
      • Gay Marriage
      • Prostitution - Legalize It?
      • Born Gay? Origins of Sexual Orientation
    • ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS
      • Social Media
      • Video Games and Violence
      • Drug Use in Sports
      • Binge-Watching
      • Golf - Is It a Sport?
      • Olympics
      • National Anthem Protest
      • Fighting in Hockey
      • Pokémon
      • College Football Playoffs (archived 9/18/12)
    • ECONOMY & TAXES
      • Minimum Wage
      • Gold Standard
      • Corporate Tax Rate & Jobs
      • Churches and Taxes
      • Uber & Lyft
      • Social Security Privatization
      • Daylight Savings Time
      • Universal Basic Income
      • Penny - Keep It?
      • Big Three Auto (archived 5/15/09)
      • Insider Trading by Congress (archived 4/18/12)
    • YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
      • Watch Our Videos
      • Teachers' Corner
      • Readers' Comments
      • Who Uses ProCon.org?
      • Debate Topics
      • Testimonials
      • Donors & Sponsors
    • GET INVOLVED
      • ProCon.org Events
      • Suggest a Topic
      • Cite This Page
      • Share on Social Media
      • Volunteers / Interns
  • ABOUT US
    • ABOUT US
    • HOW WE WORK
    • WATCH OUR VIDEOS
    • FAQS
    • EVENTS
    • TESTIMONIALS
    • DONORS & SPONSORS
  • TEACHERS' CORNER
  • HOME
  • |
  • FAQS
  • |
  • TESTIMONIALS
  • |
  • DONORS & SPONSORS

  • MORE
    ISSUES
 
  • ABOUT
    US
 
  • WATCH
    OUR VIDEOS
 
  • TEACHERS'
    CORNER

2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
Last updated on: 3/10/2016 2:37:56 PM PST

Should Genetically Modified (GMO) Foods Have Mandatory Labeling?



Pro
Clinton
Clinton

Johnson
Johnson

Stein
Stein

Con
Trump
Trump

Not Clear or Not Found





Pro (Yes)

Pro
Hillary Clinton
Hillary Clinton
Democrat

"I am very much in favor of what Secretary Vilsack is trying to do. What he's trying to do as the Secretary of Agriculture for our country is to get a [GMO] labeling program started...

If you followed what went on in the last week in Congress, very powerful agriculture forces were trying to pass a law, get it into the Omnibus, to prohibit states from passing laws requiring labeling. Now that did not pass. So that was a good, that was a good development for Secretary Vilsack because what he's trying to do is get states and advocates and agriculture interests all at the same table to say, 'Look, there's a right to know.' You should be able to have the information that you can make your judgement about.

Now, I will add this. Because I think this is fair to add. There's also a right to have the best science. You know, what is the science that is really at work here because there are a lot of advocates who fight hunger in Africa who are desperate for GMO seeds. Because they are drought-resistant. And they don't know how else they're going to get enough yield to feed people."

Source: The Institute for Responsible Technology, "Hillary Clinton's Stance on GMOs, Fairfield IA, 12/22/15," YouTube.com, Dec. 24, 2015
Pro
Gary Johnson
Gary Johnson
Libertarian

"I have celiac disease, so I need food labeled. I think food should be labeled, and that would include GMOs in food."

Source: Gary Johnson, "I Am Gary Johnson, the Libertarian Candidate for President. AMA [Ask Me Anything]," reddit.com, Sep. 11, 2012
Pro
Jill Stein
Jill Stein
Green

"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."

Source: Jill Stein, "Labeling Food Accurately," on her 2002 gubernatorial campaign website jillwill.org, available at www.web.archive.org, Aug. 28, 2002
Con (No)

Con
Donald Trump
Donald Trump
Republican

"[Iowa Farm Bureau survey question:] Do you support the use of biotechnology in food products and oppose efforts to require mandatory labeling for foods simply because they contain ingredients derived from biotechnology?...

Donald Trump: Yes."

Source: Iowa Farm Bureau, "Read the Candidates' Positions," www.iowafarmbureau.com (accessed Jan. 12, 2016)



FORMER CANDIDATES
(Candidates who have withdrawn or who no longer meet our criteria appear below in black and white and in alphabetical order.)



Pro
Sanders
Sanders

Con
Bush
Bush

Christie
Christie

Cruz
Cruz

Fiorina
Fiorina

Huckabee
Huckabee

Paul
Paul

Rubio
Rubio

Not Clear or Not Found
Carson
Carson
Graham
Graham
Kasich
Kasich
O'Malley
O'Malley





Pro (Yes)

Pro
Bernie Sanders
Bernie Sanders
Democrat

"I am very proud that Vermont is taking the lead in a growing national movement to allow the people of our country to know what is in the food they eat. GMO labeling exists in dozens of countries around the world and should exist in the United States…

I will continue my efforts in Washington, against Monsanto and other multi-national food industry corporations, to pass national legislation on this issue. In the meantime, it is extremely important that Vermont and other states lead the way."

Source: Bernie Sanders, "Sanders Applauds Vermont Senate Vote on Foods Labels," sanders.senate gov, Apr. 16, 2014

[Editor's Note: on May 23, 2013, Senator Bernie Sanders voted in favor of a Senate amendment (S.AMDT.965) that would have allowed states to require mandatory labeling of GMO foods.]
Con (No)

Con
Jeb Bush
Jeb Bush
Republican

"The GMO effort to increase yields, to deal with droughts, to deal with disease... creates economic opportunity and progress and prosperity. We should not be trying to make it harder for that kind of innovation to exist, we should celebrate it. So, as it relates to the labeling efforts, state by state, all these things, I think that’s a solution for a problem that doesn’t exist. We shouldn't be adding burdens to this innovation that makes it possible for us to be the greatest producer of food to the largest number of people in the world."

Source: Scott Galindez, "Jeb Bush on GMO's," YouTube.com, Mar. 8, 2015
Con
Chris Christie
Chris Christie
Republican

[Editor's Note: In response to a question at the Mar. 12, 2015 Iowa Agriculture Summit asking if GMO's should be included on food labels, Christie responded, "No."]
Con
Ted Cruz
Ted Cruz
Republican

"Look, I believe in science, and biotech is a great example of the wonders of science.

It is important that our food be safe and the Federal Government has a very important role in ensuring that our food is safe. But I think we should be celebrating the innovations in science that have expanded the ability to produce food…

We need to stand up to the hysteria. I would note, for families, for parents, that don’t want to feed their kids GMOs, in the private marketplace, there has grown up an abundant market. You can go and purchase organic, if you want to pay more. The market provides for that…

But we shouldn’t let anti-science zealotry shut down the ability to produce low-cost, quality food for billions across the globe."

Source: Iowa Ag Summit, "Ted Cruz at the Iowa Ag Summit," YouTube.com, Mar. 16, 2015

[Editor's Note: on May 23, 2013, Senator Ted Cruz voted against a Senate amendment (S.AMDT.965) that would have allowed states to require mandatory labeling of GMO foods.]
Con
Carly Fiorina
Carly Fiorina
Republican

"Well GMOs are safe. GMOs are safe, and, you know, you have Nobel Prize winners here from Iowa who dwarf wheat. GMOs have improved food production. They've fed millions and millions and millions of people. And so, this is an issue that's being raised by people who maybe don't understand, or maybe they don't want to understand, but it's yet again a problem that's being raised to provide power and control to government. So I don't think labeling is necessary, because I think the science is pretty clear that this is not only safe, but it's a benefit to people all over this nation, and all over the world."

Source: RFD TV, "Complete Transcript: Rural Town Hall with Carly Fiorina," rfdtv.com, Oct. 15, 2015
Con
Mike Huckabee
Mike Huckabee
Republican

"[Iowa Farm Bureau survey question:] Do you support the use of biotechnology in food products and oppose efforts to require mandatory labeling for foods simply because they contain ingredients derived from biotechnology?...

Mike Huckabee: Yes."

Source: Iowa Farm Bureau, "Read the Candidates' Positions," www.iowafarmbureau.com (accessed Jan. 12, 2016)
Con
Rand Paul
Rand Paul
Republican

"The labeling requirements [for GMO foods] are enormously expensive and just add to the cost of foods. Somebody who is poor can't buy as much food because of requiring labels to be stuck on things…

I don't think we ought to be involved with labeling at all so I'm an outlier in that I don't fit neatly in one category or the other."

Source: Frank Holdmeyer, "Sen. Rand Paul Opens up on GMO Labeling," agri-pulse.com, Sep. 13, 2015

[Editor's Note: on May 23, 2013, Senator Rand Paul voted against a Senate amendment (S.AMDT.965) that would have allowed states to require mandatory labeling of GMO foods.]
Con
Marco Rubio
Marco Rubio
Republican

"Over the past twenty years, advances in biotechnology have led to the increased use of genetic engineering to produce many of the food products consumed by Americans. Originally, genetic engineering was used to enhance the production yield and resiliency of field crops, like tomatoes and corn, but modern techniques have expanded the use of genetic engineering to a wide range of commercially available food products, like dairy, fish, and meat. Although genetically engineered food products have been approved and regulated by various federal agencies, their safety, as well as the environmental and economic impact of their use, continues to be debated among agricultural, environmental, and consumer groups.

As you may know, on May 23, 2013 the Senate voted down, 27-71, an amendment to S. 954, the Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2013, offered by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) which would have permitted states to require that any food offered for sale have a label indicating that the food contains a genetically engineered ingredient...

I believe common-sense, market-oriented solutions based on sound science are the best approach to protecting consumers."

Source: GMO Free Florida, "GMO Free Florida (Genetically Modified Organisms)," Facebook.com, June 24, 2013

[Editor's Note: on May 23, 2013, Senator Marco Rubio voted against a Senate amendment (S.AMDT.965) that would have allowed states to require mandatory labeling of GMO foods.]


Not Clearly Pro or Con
Ben Carson
Ben Carson
Republican

"I actually like for people to know what they're buying. I like for people to know what they're eating. And I think it's only fair for them to be able to see that, because people have different impressions about what they want to eat… As far as GMOs are concerned, you know, there are a lot of GMOs. Like broccoli. Broccoli is a GMO. It's a hybrid between two different vegetables. So, you know, there's a whole spectrum of what is a GMO, and there's a lot of hype, quite frankly, and propaganda surrounding GMOs. The fact of the matter is, as science progresses, and you know, we learn how to, you know, inject a gene for instance that will make a plant very unpalatable for certain pests, we'll probably use that technology. That technically is going to be a GMO. And there's going to be a lot of things. So what we really have to do is be logical about it, and not be hysterical about it, and recognize that we do make progress. The foods that we eat today are actually different than a lot of the foods that people ate 100 years ago, because of the modifications that have occurred naturally, through farmers learning different ways to do things."

Source: RFD-TV News Staff, "Complete Transcript: RURAL TOWN HALL with Dr. Ben Carson," www.rfdtv.com, Aug. 25, 2015





None Found
Lindsey Graham
Lindsey Graham
Republican

Withdrew on Dec. 21, 2015; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate's position on this question.





None Found
John Kasich
John Kasich
Republican

No position found as of Jan. 12, 2016





Not Clearly Pro or Con
Martin O'Malley
Martin O'Malley
Democrat

"I need a better, clearer policy [on GMO labeling]. I'm inclined to believe that more information is always best, and that labeling, especially of things we put in our bodies and the food that we eat is something important and good…

I'm inclined... to believe that more labeling is good rather than bad."

Source: New Hampshire Right to Know GMO, "Governor O'Malley," nhrighttoknowgmo.org, Sep. 4, 2015








2016 Presidential Election Homepage

Quiz - Find Your Candidate Match!
Compare Candidate Positions Side-by-Side
RECOMMENDED to you...
1
Did You Know?
2
The Electoral College: Top 3 Pros and Cons
3
Pros and Cons of Donald Trump's Cabinet Picks
4
Differences in Conservative and Liberal Brains
5
Candidate Finances
6
Candidate Position Changes
7
US Political Parties
8
Presidential Election History from 1789 to 2012
9
How to Become the US President: A Step-by-Step Guide
10
Order of Presidential Succession
11
Top 10 Most Surprising Things in the 2016 Presidential Candidates' Online Stores
12
How to Register to Vote
+ DIG DEEPER...
2016 Presidential Election Results
ProCon.org Criteria for Inclusion as a Presidential Candidate
Glossary
Jeb Bush - Positions
Ben Carson - Positions
Chris Christie - Positions
Hillary Clinton - Positions
Ted Cruz - Positions
Carly Fiorina - Positions
Lindsey Graham - Positions
Mike Huckabee - Positions
John Kasich - Positions
Martin O'Malley - Positions
Rand Paul - Positions
Marco Rubio - Positions
Bernie Sanders - Positions
Donald Trump - Positions
2012 Presidential Election Quiz
CITE THIS PAGE
Who is the author?
SHARE
HOME
ABOUT
CITE THIS PAGE
REPRINTING POLICY
PRIVACY POLICY
DISCLAIMER
READER FAVORITES

State Laws
Debate Topics
Critical Thinking Quotes
Teaching Controversial Issues
History Of...
TRANSLATE
into 100+ Languages and Dialects
LET'S GET SOCIAL!
Tweets by @procon_org
ProCon.org is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity.


Contact Us

233 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 200
Santa Monica, CA 90401




Natalie Leppard
Managing Editor
procon@eb.com


© 2025 ProCon.org
All rights reserved
Contact Us

ProCon/Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
325 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 200
Chicago, Illinois 60654 USA


Natalie Leppard
Managing Editor
procon@eb.com


© 2025 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
All rights reserved