Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, and more than 80 farmers, public health, environmental, and organic food organizations have sent a letter to Michael R. Taylor, Deputy Commissioner for Food at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and to Kathleen Merrigan, Deputy Secretary at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), expressing what they call “serious concerns that a proposed U.S. position on food labeling would create major problems for American producers who want to label their products as free of genetically modified (GM)/genetically engineered (GE) ingredients.”
According to the press release about the letter, concerns are about a position, drafted by USDA and FDA, that opposes a United Nations document “stating that countries can adopt different approaches to labeling of GE food ... The current U.S. draft position goes even further to say that mandatory labeling of food as GE/GM ‘is likely to create the impression that the labeled food is in some way different’ and would therefore be ‘false, misleading or deceptive’.
The letter says: “We are concerned that the current U.S. position could potentially create significant problems for food producers in the U.S. who wish to indicate that their products contain no GE ingredients. Organic food in particular, which prohibits GE ingredients, are frequently labeled ‘GE-free’ or ‘No GMOs’.”
According to the press release about the letter, concerns are about a position, drafted by USDA and FDA, that opposes a United Nations document “stating that countries can adopt different approaches to labeling of GE food ... The current U.S. draft position goes even further to say that mandatory labeling of food as GE/GM ‘is likely to create the impression that the labeled food is in some way different’ and would therefore be ‘false, misleading or deceptive’.
The letter says: “We are concerned that the current U.S. position could potentially create significant problems for food producers in the U.S. who wish to indicate that their products contain no GE ingredients. Organic food in particular, which prohibits GE ingredients, are frequently labeled ‘GE-free’ or ‘No GMOs’.”
- KC's View:
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I believe in mandatory labeling of GE/GM products, even though Ib have few concerns about consuming such items. I believe it is incumbent on producers to explain to consumers why this progress makes sense and is a good idea. If they cannot explain it, if they cannot find the narrative that makes such products palatable to shoppers, then maybe they ought to work harder.
