FDA announced that the agency will regulate genetically engineered animals. Here’s what to know about bioengineered food products and labeling of GMOs.
On September 12, 2022, President Biden issued an “Executive Order on Advancing Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Innovation for a Sustainable, Safe, and Secure American Bioeconomy.” While much of the Executive Order stresses health, medicine, energy and biological data, there are specific sections that apply to agriculture and food.
Earlier this month, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it had released additional science-based information about GMOs on its “Feed Your Mind” website. Now FDA has added new fact sheets, infographics, videos, and instruction guides specifically tailored to consumers, health educators, and registered dietitians/registered dietitian nutritionists.
After writing about the new US requirement to disclose bioengineered foods and ingredients, I spent some time at my local grocery stores checking out how different manufacturers are making their disclosures. Armed with my cell phone (for the digital disclosures), I visited my local Giant (owned by Ahold) and Wegmans stores.
Starting January 1, 2022, USDA regulations specify how foods sold in the United States that are bioengineered or contain bioengineered ingredients must disclose that information to consumers.
Most foods must now disclose if they contain DNA from a GMO (a genetically modified—aka “bioengineered”—organism). Those foods are safe to eat, say the National Academy of Sciences and the Food and Drug Administration. But the disclosure rules are confusing...and full of loopholes. Here's a look at what the rules cover, which kinds of foods may be GMO, the loopholes, and our bottom line.
CSPI and Consumer Federation of America appreciate the opportunity to submit comments to the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) on its advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) involving questions about how meat and poultry products comprised of, or containing, cultured meat and poultry cells should be labeled.
