Millions Against Monsanto

Government Lays out the Rules for Labeling for Genetically Modified Foods

U.S. consumers will see labels on food products that contain genetically modified ingredients as early as 2020, federal officials said Thursday. The USDA on Thursday released the first national disclosure requirements for foods that have been altered in a way that doesn’t occur naturally.

December 20, 2018 | Source: CNBC | by Marilyn Haigh

U.S. consumers will see labels on food products that contain genetically modified ingredients as early as 2020, federal officials said Thursday.

The USDA on Thursday released the first national disclosure requirements for foods that have been altered in a way that doesn’t occur naturally.

The fight over whether or not to label foods with genetically modified ingredients, also called genetically engineered foods and GMOs, has raged for years. Advocates say consumers should know how their food is made, and opponents worry consumers will interpret labels on bioengineered foods as a warning on foods many agree are safe.

The guidelines, which use the term “bioengineered” instead of the more commonly used “genetically modified,” allow disclosure of bioengineered ingredients in several formats: in text, a symbol, a digital link printed on packaging or text message.

Companies can use a QR code with a statement like: “Scan here for more food information.” After scanning the code, consumers will be brought to a website where genetically modified foods will be disclosed.