Academy-award winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow lobbied Congress on Wednesday against the new Safe and Accurate Labeling Food Act which if defeated could increase food costs up to $500 a year for families.
"I'm not here as an expert," Paltrow said. "I'm here as a mother, an American mother, that honestly believes I have the right to know what's in the food I feed my family."
The Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act, which would ban states from generating their own mandatory labeling laws, was introduced and passed in the House two weeks ago. A recent study from a Cornell University economist concluded that varying mandatory labeling from state to state could raise an average of family of four’s food cost up to $500.
Paltrow was joined by her mother, actress Blythe Danner, and Sen. Jon Tester (D., Mont.) in the hearing to oppose the legislation. Supporters of Paltrow and the senator’s efforts have chosen to rename the bill the DARK Act or the "Denying Americans the Right to Know Act."
Claire Parker, spokesperson for the Coalition for Safe Affordable Food, told the Hill that Paltrow is not seeing the realities that everyday Americans are facing.
"Out of touch Hollywood celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow want Congress to enshrine their lifestyle choices into law while ignoring the everyday realities facing American families,"said Parker. "This legislation has earned the backing of everyone, from farmers to food banks. We are confident the Senate will stand with science and American families rather than the extreme agendas of Hollywood elites and that common sense and scientific consensus will win out over media spectacle."
Paltrow attempted to see the realities of families on a food budget by living off on a food stamp grocery budget for a week in April. She made it four days, and said she would give herself a C- on her effort.
Paltrow has said in the past that she would rather, "die than let my kid eat Cup-a-Soup,"or would prefer to"smoke crack than eat cheese from a tin."