If biotech industry leaders are scientifically confident that GMOs are 100% safe, why is the biotech industry spending millions of dollars to campaign against the American people who want the GMOs they buy labeled?

Expert response from David B. Schmidt

President & CEO, International Food Information Council (IFIC) Foundation

Tuesday, 08/10/2013 13:28

While I can’t speak for the biotech industry, there is an important principle at stake in many of these ballot measures.  Activists and elements of the organic and natural food industries are spending millions of dollars to stigmatize conventional and biotech foods in order to promote their niche products, which are generally sold to consumers at a higher price.  In essence, they are creating fear with unproven, outlandish allegations in order to get unsuspecting consumers to avoid affordable, safe and wholesome foods, in hopes that they can sell you their niche product at a higher price and profit for them.  If regulators allowed this to happen with biotechnology, there could be no end to the types of safe food and agriculture technologies that could be unfairly banned or stigmatized by false accusations and innuendo, rather than scientific consensus.  The success of American commerce, admired around the world, is a level playing field based on facts and fairness, and our regulators help ensure that remains constant.

Expert response from Community Manager

Moderator for GMOAnswers.com

Wednesday, 02/10/2013 19:52

 Please review the following responses on this topic: 

• If you are truly interested in opening the discussion, agree to full disclosure of any genetically modified ingredients in foods, or seeds. Why not?
• If as you say GMO is so safe then why all the billions being spent to fight Labeling . Why not just spend a few $ and label all?
• You have answered, very thoroughly, your reasons for opposing labeling GMO products. You also acknowledge that people have some strong feelings about consuming them. For whatever good or bad reason, some people prefer to avoid them. My question: you understand why people are upset, right?
• Why are many of the founding members of this website against Prop 37? Don't you believe the public has a right to know where their food comes from and how it was created?

One passage, from Dr. Neal Van Alfen, of UC Davis, reads:

“We should not compromise the integrity or credibility of our food labeling system by requiring a warning, when there is no credible scientific evidence of 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.”

If you feel that your question has not been answered in these responses, or if you have additional questions, please ask here.