Earlier this year, this blog reported on the legislation pejoratively dubbed the “Monsanto Protection Act” by critics, reportedly allowing for the manufacturers of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to continue their work using artificially stimulated items to produce food. However, a bill arrived this week that might shift the tide a bit in favor of those against the use of this practice if it is passed, by requiring food labels to disclose whether or not certain products were created through these means.
This standard is reportedly already upheld by many other countries, and the two Democratic officials pushing for this current rule, Representative Peter DeFazio of Oregon and Senator Barbara Boxer of California, each have some background with this issue.
The bill itself is known as the Genetically Engineered Food Right-to-Know Act, and it is proposed as an amendment to a previous piece of legislation called the “Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.” In its introductory sections, the new Act asserts its mission to “establish a consistent and enforceable standard for labeling of foods produced using genetic engineering, including fish, thereby providing consumers with knowledge of how their food is produced.”
Some of the “findings” listed in a subsection include that there are “more than 3,000” substances used in food production that necessitate an FDA-approved label, and that “mandatory identification of food produced with genetic engineering” can effect the way these foods are received in other markets.
In addition, according to this document, the UN has previously established that such regulations are the provision of the specific countries involved.
Even labeling for natural foods without long lists of additives can be a difficult affair. Businesses looking to make their products more easily identifiable can make use of a label printer to create labels that conform to product packaging without dissuading concerned consumers from checking the ingredients list.
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