I have to wonder, if GMO is as good and safe as we are told it is, why not label it and let everyone know they are getting the good stuff?

Expert response from Community Manager

Moderator for GMOAnswers.com

Friday, 05/06/2015 14:16

You might be interested in reading this response to a similar question posted on GMOAnswers.com. In addition, below are several excerpts and links to a few expert responses that address your question.

In this response, Andy Hedgecock, director, Scientific Affairs, DuPont Pioneer discusses food labels.

“First, I think it’s important to point out that nearly two decades of science and rigorous global review have demonstrated that biotech crops are safe. Therefore, biotech labeling is a question not of safety but rather of how food is marketed. At DuPont Pioneer, we develop and market seed, both biotech and nonbiotech, to meet the unique needs of our farmer customers and the markets they’re serving. As you’ve noted, there are already food marketing programs in place for consumers looking for products grown without the benefit of biotechnology. The US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Certified Organic Program is probably the most recognized example, but USDA’s Agriculture Marketing Service also offers process verification services for companies looking to validate a marketing claim about specific aspects of how a food is grown or processed.

“At the end of the day, we believe all labels should be helpful and not misleading for consumers. What I find in the discussions I have is, ‘helpful’ means different things to different people. When it comes to biotechnology, some would find it helpful to know about GM safety; others are interested in the potential impacts to the environment (including beneficial), perceived corporate control of agriculture or how we make biotech crops and why. In the end, a label will not help answer these questions. But we can. That is why the biotech companies have joined together to create this forum where consumers can ask their questions directly of us, independent scientists, health professionals, farmers and more.”

Neal Van Alfen, former dean, College of Agriculture & Environmental Sciences, University of California, Davis, also comments on food labeling in this response.

“The reason food is not labeled as containing GMOs is that mandatory food labeling is used only to provide information that may be important for consumers to make food choices regarding ingredients known to affect their health. After many studies and years of experience with consumption of GMOs, there is no credible evidence that there is a health risk associated with eating GMOs …

“Is it then fair and reasonable to require mandatory labeling to warn consumers that food contains GMOs, when this labeling system is used only when consumers must make health-risk choices? Without evidence that GMOs are a health risk, we should not compromise the integrity or credibility of our food labeling system by requiring a warning, when there is no credible scientific evidence for adverse health effects associated with the consumption of GMOs.

“Foods can be and are labeled to help consumers make choices, but such labeling is voluntary. Common examples are kosher and halal labels, which help consumers select or avoid foods based on their belief systems.”

Cathleen Enright, former executive director of the Council of Biotechnology Information provides context to mandatory labeling in this response.

“The United States has a history of reserving the use of mandatory labels to convey information to consumers about the safety and nutrition of a product. We support mandatory labeling of food, including GMO food, when a food raises a safety or health issue — for example, to alert sensitive populations to the potential presence of an allergen. But mandating a GMO label would tell the consumer nothing about a product’s safety or nutrition value.

“As such, we cannot support mandatory labeling of a food just because it was produced with biotechnology. We believe this would convey to consumers that food made from crops grown by farmers who plant our seeds is somehow less safe or nutritious than, or of inferior quality to, its non-GM counterparts. Two decades of scientific study and regulatory review around the world simply do not support this.

“That said, we agree completely with voluntary labeling of food, including for the presence or absence of GMOs. Such voluntary labels are often used by food manufacturers seeking to promote their product over another’s. But by law, such labels cannot be used to make claims that are false or misleading to consumers, including about the safety of a product. Today, you can find voluntary marketing labels, such as ‘USDA Organic,’ being used to promote non GMO foods.”

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