Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) criticized the “lack of news coverage” of a House bill that would ban labeling requirements for genetically modified foods, in a statement to Media Matters.

Responding to Media Matters' July 24 analysis of coverage by network and cable news programs, Rep. Conyers said that "[p]eople deserve to know what's in their food" but that a lack of media attention means “most Americans have been denied basic information about the debate in Congress.” Conyers added, “It's time for our nation's major news organizations to shine light on sweeping changes to our food system.”

Conyers' full statement read:

HR 1599 is an unprecedented corporate power-grab, which would not only stop the Food and Drug Administration and states from labeling GMOs but also block many state and local efforts to protect farmers and the public from threats including pesticide drift.  People deserve to know what's in their food. More than 90% of Americans want GMO labelling according to recent polling. Sadly -- due to a lack of news coverage about HR 1599 -- most Americans have been denied basic information about the debate in Congress.  It's time for our nation's major news organizations to shine light on sweeping changes to our food system.

H.R. 1599, which passed the House on July 23 and now heads to the Senate, would block states and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration from labeling foods that contain genetically modified organisms (GMO), and allow food companies to describe products containing GMO ingredients as “natural.” Environmental and consumer rights organizations have denounced the bill because it would keep consumers in the dark when a vast majority of Americans support the right to know whether their food contains GMOs.