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Question

By refusing to label it, your forcing the population to consume your product. So if someone is allergic to peanuts, they don't have the right to know their eating peanuts because it might hurt the peanut market. GOSH, WHAT A WONDERFUL COMPANY YOU ARE!!!

Submitted by: Brenna Aune


Answer

Expert response from GMOAnswers Admin_1

Wednesday, 18/12/2013 15:57

I would also be very concerned if a known food allergen, like peanuts, was not listed on a package label. This is a legitimate health and safety issue, and the fact is that FDA requires products containing the 8 foods known to cause 90 percent of food allergies to be labeled as such. These 8 foods are: milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts, and soybeans.  The only GMO food in this list that is on the market today is soy. So, if a food product contains GMO soy or organic soy ingredients, that package must have a label noting the presence of an allergen.

 

For more information on food allergen labels, see this Consumer Update on FDA’s website: http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm254504.htm.

 

Also, we’ve recently posted a new, detailed response on food allergens from Registered Dietitian, Lisa Katic. Find her answer here: http://gmoanswers.com/ask/hi-kimberly-schneider-again-i-wanted-clear-concise-answer-my-question-about-substantial-increase.

 

Now, to your other point about forcing people to eat our products. We fully support consumer choice and have no intention of forcing anyone to eat GMOs. Personally, I eat exactly what I want, and sometimes that’s organic food and sometimes it’s not. My food choices often depend on what’s on sale at the grocery store, or my craving that afternoon.

 

While we stand by the safety and nutrition of foods containing GMO ingredients (and many stand with us: http://gmopundit.blogspot.com.au/p/450-published-safety-assessments.html), we recognize that you may not be convinced. That’s one reason why we created this website – so that you could voice your concerns, ask questions and receive information to help you make informed decisions. It’s also why we support voluntary labeling and the marketplace’s ability to use labels, like non-GMO and certified USDA Organic, to differentiate and promote those products that don’t contain GMO ingredients.