House Bill 433 "Labeling of Genetically Modified Fish"
Click for PDF: http://www.akdemocrats.org/sponsor/HB433_ss_rep_kerttula.pdfIn an effort to address concerns raised by consumer, environmental, health, and Alaska fish marketing groups, House Bill 433 requires Alaskan retailers to identify and label foods containing seafood and seafood products that have been genetically modified.
There has been widespread concern over the largely unknown effects of transgenic or genetically modified products on human and environmental health. Several countries require the labeling of foods made from or containing genetically modified products, and several other states have introduced legislation similar to House Bill 433.
The message that Alaskan seafood is more natural than seafood that has been engineered or bred is a highly important marketing tool. This bill, by requiring a differentiation between genetically modified and wild seafood, would help highlight Alaska seafood as distinct from genetically modified seafood.