LETTER SENT TO
Senators of States where NSMA Members are Located
November 10, 2015 via www.senators.gov
Dear Senator _________:
The legislation addressing “Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act” is of interest to our members because
this legislation will ensure American food labeling standards are based on consistent, national standards
driven by science. The National Seasoning Manufacturers Association (NSMA) is a trade association
representing the U.S. seasoning industry.
Founded in 1973, our membership manufactures more than 90% of seasonings consumed in the United
States. The NSMA is comprised of member companies that produce food ingredients including but not
limited to seasonings, spices, flavorings, vegetable ingredients and derivatives and other food additives.
As suppliers of multi-component ingredients, our products must meet the marketing requirements of
numerous customers producing consumer package goods. Accordingly, our membership has been
significantly impacted by the current state of confusion in the marketplace regarding genetically engineered
food and food ingredients.
Your colleagues in the House passed this legislation in July by a 275-150 margin. This strong bipartisan
support is a testament to the fact that the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act is the reasonable approach
we need to protect consumer choice, science and agricultural productivity while preventing the confusion
and costly price spikes associated with a patchwork of state labeling laws.
American food labeling should be based on science and overseen by federal regulators, just as it has been
for over 100 years; and consumers across the country should be presented with the same information no
matter where they shop.
This legislation will prevent a complex maze of differing state regulations from imposing costly new burdens
on farmers and small business owners, which would be passed on to consumers in the form of higher food
prices. Vermont's mandatory labeling law is set to take effect next July, and numerous studies have found
that consumers will pay the price. In fact, a 2014 study out of Cornell University found that these costs
could total up to $500 per year for a family of four.
Additionally, the bill establishes a national GMO-free certification process that gives consumers who choose
to purchase non-GMO foods the ability to do so, bringing consistency to an area of the marketplace where
it is currently lacking. This program is modeled after the popular National Organic Program overseen by
the US Department of Agriculture and is a sensible solution that gives consumers access to information
without the consequences of mandatory labeling.
Mandatory food labeling in the United States is reserved for important health and safety information. The
world's leading health and safety organizations - from the American Medical Association to the World Health
Organization - and thousands of independent studies have all deemed GMOs to be safe. There is therefore
no justification for the mandatory labeling of GMOs and to do so would only mislead consumers. This is
why both chambers of Congress have already overwhelmingly voted down mandatory labeling proposals.
With mandatory labeling already rejected on a bipartisan basis, the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act
is a common sense, reasonable approach Senators of both parties can get behind.
The House has acted, now it's time for the Senate to do likewise. NSMA encourages you to stand up for
science, farmers and consumer choice and clarity by supporting the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act.
With Vermont's law set to go into effect next July, the time to act is now.
NSMA believes that this bill will help alleviate current consumer confusion with clear and consistent
information. We strongly support H.R. 1599 and urge you to vote “Yes”.
Sincerely yours,
Geraldina Cristantiello
Executive Director
National Seasoning Manufacturers Association
228 Phelps Avenue, Cresskill, NJ 07626
Tel: 201-657-1989 | Fax: 201-490-5922
Email: gerri@seasoningmanufacturers.org
Web: www.seasoningmanufacturers.org
Officers:
President – Tim Sonntag, Wixon Inc.
Vice President – Carol Yuknis, Griffith Laboratories USA
Treasurer - Rodney Schaffer, Con Yeager Spice Co.
Secretary – Liz Morris, Elite Spice, Inc.
Executive Director - Geraldina Cristantiello
Directors:
Moty Bar, Elite Spice, Inc.
Leslie Cammarata, Chesapeake Spice Co.
Greg Gamble, Asenzya, Inc.
Rodney Hayes, McCormick & Co., Inc.
Alina Lastra, Badia Spices Inc.
Steve Markus, Sterigenics
Jean Theiss, Newly Weds Foods
MEMBERS:
A.C. LEGG, INC., Calera, AL; ACTIV INTERNATIONAL, Middlesex, NJ; B&M INC. (RED MONKEY FOODS), Mt. Vernon,
MO; BADIA SPICES, INC., Miami, FL; BDS NATURAL PRODUCTS, Carson, CA; CERTIFIED LABORATORIES, INC.,
Plainview, NY; CHESAPEAKE SPICE CO. LLC, Belcamp, MD; CON YEAGER SPICE CO., Zelienople, PA; ELITE SPICE,
INC., Jessup, MD; FIRST SPICE MIXING CO. INC., Long Island City, NY; ASENZYA, INC., Oak Creek, WI; GRIFFITH
LABORATORIES USA, INC., Alsip, IL; INGREDIENTS CORP. OF AMERICA, Memphis, TN; KALUSTYAN CORPORATION,
Union, NJ; MACCO ORGANIQUES, INC., Valleyfield, QC, Canada; MCCARTHY SPICE & BLENDS, St. Louis, MO;
MCCLANCY SEASONING CO., Fort Mill, SC; MCCORMICK AND CO.INC., Sparks, MD; NEWLY WEDS FOODS INC.,
Chicago, IL; OLD WORLD SPICES AND SEASONINGS, Overland Park, KS; PACIFIC SPICE CO. INC., Commerce, CA; R.L.
SCHREIBER, INC., Pompano Beach, FL; REED FOOD TECHNOLOGY, Pearl, MS; STERIGENICS INTL., INC., Oak Brook,
IL; WIXON INC., St. Francis, WI; WORLD FLAVORS INC., Ivyland, PA; DEAN DISTRIBUTORS INC., Vernon, CA; DEEP
SOUTH BLENDERS, Metairie, LA