Why do biotechnology companies oppose labeling requirements?

Expert response from Community Manager

Friday, 09/01/2015 12:14

This question is top of mind for many consumers, and I appreciate the opportunity to provide an answer. Here are a few of the key reasons why we have opposed the mandatory labeling initiatives that have been offered in many states. 

Firstly, we are concerned about the increased financial burden to farmers and consumers. The potential crop production and segregation requirements, as well as the very large associated costs, were thoroughly detailed by Jennie Schmidt, a Maryland farmer and Registered Dietitian, in this post on GMO Answers. Additionally, William Lesser from Cornell University, developed this report detailing why food prices would rise for consumers, approximately $500 per family per year, due to the proposed labeling requirements. 

Additionally, we are opposed to a mandatory label that would unnecessarily disparage one type of plant breeding over another. Here is an excerpt from Cathy Enright’s response addressing a similar question: 

“…we cannot support the mandatory labeling of GM food just because the food in the market was produced using genetic engineering, for example, in wine, yogurt or bread made with GM yeast, vegetable oil made from GM soybeans, or cereal sweetened with GM sugar. These foods are as safe and nutritious as their non-GMO counterparts as determined by recognized authorities around the world including the American Medical Association, the US National Academy of Science, the World Health Organization and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. …”

I encourage you to read the full answer here. 

Finally, we support your right to know what’s in your food and to be able to make informed choices. However, with an ambiguous “may contain GMOs” label, in addition to the exemptions included in these proposals; e.g., restaurants, dairy, alcohol, etc., the information that would actually be made available to consumers would be limited, vague and not useful in making decisions about food purchases. Michael Specter discusses these issues and more in an article he wrote for the New Yorker, and this editorial from Nature Biotechnology highlights the same concerns. Consumers who are looking to buy foods without GMO ingredients currently can look for USDA’s certified organic label or other voluntary non-GM or GMO-free marketing labels.