GMO Labeling

One vote down and one to go.  In my opinion, the government took a positive step when the House voted 275-150 to pass the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act.  The bill, H.R. 1599 will give a federal mandate on how to label foods instead of each state trying to enact its own labeling rules. It is a much more consistent way of labeling, while still using some logical thinking.

A summary of the bill is below, but essentially the FDA must allow but will not require the food to be labeled as GMO.   Study after study has shown the safety of GMOs so why is a label needed?  Some consumers want a GMO label on foods that are already safe, but I don't see them getting upset about not having labels for aflatoxins, a toxin found in fugal infested grain, which actually can be harmful. Or how about how many roach parts or rat droppings are in our food.  A certain amount is allowed, but I don't see that on the label.

Check out what is allowed in your food at http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/GuidanceDocumentsRegulatoryInformation/SanitationTransportation/ucm056174.htm

Most people love rodent hairs with your peanut butter right?  I just always wonder why the consumer gets gets so stuck on GMOs when there are other things that are not questioned.   Hopefully we will see the Senate follow through on getting this bill one step closer to law.

Peanut Butter	Insect filth (AOAC 968.35)	Average of 30 or more insect fragments per 100 grams
	Rodent filth (AOAC 968.35)	Average of 1 or more rodent hairs per 100 grams
	Grit (AOAC 968.35)	Gritty taste and water insoluble inorganic residue is more than 25 mg per 100 grams
	DEFECT SOURCE:  Insect fragments - preharvest and/or post harvest and/or processing insect infestation, Rodent hair - post harvest and/or processing contamination with animal hair or excreta, Grit - harvest contamination Significance: Aesthetic

The H.R. 1599 bill

Library of Congress Summary

The summary below was written by the Congressional Research Service, which is a nonpartisan division of the Library of Congress.

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3/25/2015--Introduced.

Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015

This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require the developer of a bioengineered organism intended as food to submit a premarket biotechnology notification to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A “bioengineered organism” (commonly called a “genetically modified organism” or “GMO”) is a plant or part of a plant that has been modified through recombinant DNA techniques in a way that could not be obtained using conventional breeding techniques.

The premarket notification must include the developer’s determination that food from, containing, or consisting of the GMO (GMO food) is as safe as a comparable non-GMO food. For the GMO to be sold as food, the FDA must not object to the developer’s determination. If the FDA determines that there is a material difference between a GMO food and a comparable non-GMO food, the FDA can specify labeling that informs consumers of the difference.

A food label can only claim that a food is non-GMO if the ingredients are subject to certain supply chain process controls. No food label can suggest that non-GMO foods are safer than GMO foods. A food can be labeled as non-GMO even if it is produced with a GMO processing aid or enzyme or derived from animals fed GMO feed or given GMO drugs.

The FDA must allow, but not require, GMO food to be labeled as GMO.

The FDA must regulate the use of “natural” on food labels.

This bill amends the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to require the Agricultural Marketing Service to establish a program to certify non-GMO food.

This bill preempts state and local restrictions on GMOs or GMO food and labeling requirements for GMOs, GMO food, non-GMO food, or “natural” food.