Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share The Labeling Of GMO Foods
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
The Labeling Of GMO Foods
American consumers will soon be able to discern whether or not foods contain genetically-modified ingredients. The USDA’s so-called ‘National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard’ will be required for foods that have been altered in a way that doesn’t occur naturally. The mandatory compliance date is January 1st, 2022.
While this does sound like great news, there are some major
drawbacks. The new guidelines use the
uncommon term “bioengineered” instead of “genetically-modified” or “GMO.” The
guidelines also allow the disclosure of bioengineered (or B.E.) ingredients in
several formats: as text, a symbol, a phone number (that consumers can call for
more info), or a digital link printed on the packaging. Companies are allowed to use a QR code that
asks consumers to “scan here for more food information.” Scanning the QR code will bring consumers to
a website where the GMO disclosure can be found.
Advocates of the various labeling options say it’ll make it easier and faster for companies to comply with the new guidelines. But critics worry consumers will find it confusing and restrict access for those without smartphones. They say that companies who elect to use a QR code or phone number should be required to include the word “bioengineered” on their packaging.
Another drawback is that products won’t have to be labeled as
‘bioengineered’ if they’ve been processed to the point where their bioengineered
DNA can’t be detected. Examples include
refined beet sugar, soybean oil, and high fructose corn syrup.
The fight over the labeling of GMO foods has raged for many
years. But this labeling mandate falls
short of consumer expectations by hiding the information about GMOs instead of
disclosing it. We should expect better.
**********
Web Links
Government lays out the rules for labeling for genetically modified foods
Photo, posted August 24, 2015, courtesy of Rob Bertholf via Flickr.
Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.
View all episodes
By Randy Simon
4.7
1515 ratings
American consumers will soon be able to discern whether or not foods contain genetically-modified ingredients. The USDA’s so-called ‘National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard’ will be required for foods that have been altered in a way that doesn’t occur naturally. The mandatory compliance date is January 1st, 2022.
While this does sound like great news, there are some major
drawbacks. The new guidelines use the
uncommon term “bioengineered” instead of “genetically-modified” or “GMO.” The
guidelines also allow the disclosure of bioengineered (or B.E.) ingredients in
several formats: as text, a symbol, a phone number (that consumers can call for
more info), or a digital link printed on the packaging. Companies are allowed to use a QR code that
asks consumers to “scan here for more food information.” Scanning the QR code will bring consumers to
a website where the GMO disclosure can be found.
Advocates of the various labeling options say it’ll make it easier and faster for companies to comply with the new guidelines. But critics worry consumers will find it confusing and restrict access for those without smartphones. They say that companies who elect to use a QR code or phone number should be required to include the word “bioengineered” on their packaging.
Another drawback is that products won’t have to be labeled as
‘bioengineered’ if they’ve been processed to the point where their bioengineered
DNA can’t be detected. Examples include
refined beet sugar, soybean oil, and high fructose corn syrup.
The fight over the labeling of GMO foods has raged for many
years. But this labeling mandate falls
short of consumer expectations by hiding the information about GMOs instead of
disclosing it. We should expect better.
**********
Web Links
Government lays out the rules for labeling for genetically modified foods
Photo, posted August 24, 2015, courtesy of Rob Bertholf via Flickr.
Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.
More shows like Earth Wise
View all
Stuff You Should Know
78,636 Listeners
Freakonomics Radio
32,100 Listeners
Planet Money
30,666 Listeners
Hidden Brain
43,528 Listeners
Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
38,856 Listeners
Living on Earth
466 Listeners
Science Quickly
1,396 Listeners
Nature Podcast
766 Listeners
BirdNote Daily
1,255 Listeners
The Academic Minute
29 Listeners
Science Magazine Podcast
821 Listeners
Science Friday
6,435 Listeners
The Book Show
33 Listeners
Everything Explained
20 Listeners
The Daily
111,948 Listeners
The Media Project
39 Listeners
The Roundtable
159 Listeners
51 Percent
14 Listeners
A New York Minute in History
50 Listeners
The Capitol Connection
22 Listeners
The Legislative Gazette
11 Listeners
Short Wave
6,564 Listeners
The Ezra Klein Show
15,950 Listeners
The Atlas Obscura Podcast
1,736 Listeners