The bill requires food manufacturers to disclose the presence of bioengineered ingredients in one of three ways: text on the package, a symbol on the package or a link to a web site (a quick response code or similar technology).
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Supporters urged President Obama to sign the law and pledged to work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture in writing the regulations implementing the measure.
“Likewise, a consistent federal labeling standard will allow food companies to mitigate the economic impact of multiple state requirements, while providing them with flexible options to communicate with their customers, depending on size and level of technological sophistication”, Nassif said.
“With this legislation, both the House and the Senate have voted to do away basic transparency about how food is produced”. “Republicans and Democrats found consensus on the common ground that a patchwork of different state labeling laws would be a costly and confusing disaster for the nation’s food supply chain”.
This legislation brings continuity to the marketplace, ensuring that consumers have the access to product information they deserve without stigmatizing this safe, proven technology valued by American farmers.
While there is little scientific concern about the safety of those GMOs on the market, advocates for labeling argue that not enough is known about their risks and people want to know what’s in their food.
Those using smartlabels or other digital disclosures would have to add a phrase such as “Scan here for more food information, ‘ but would not have to use the term ‘GMO” on the label, something to which anti-GMO activists strongly object.
“This legislation helps to continue those benefits by avoiding the confusion of differing and potentially misleading labeling standards from state to state”. Only a handful of genetically engineered fruits and vegetables are available in the produce aisle, including Hawaiian papaya, some zucchini and squash and some sweet corn.
“However, we believe this bill will ultimately provide a platform for the food industry to educate consumers on the current and potential benefits of genetically modified foods”. “The science already tells us they are safe to eat, and they are already helping us grow more food while protecting the environment and reducing our dependence on natural resources”.
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Wide consumer distrust of the agriculture industry and its use of genetic modification while rallying against transparent labeling has led the private sector to take matters into its own hands to regain consumer confidence.
