FDA won’t allow food to be labeled free of genetic modification: report

[cory777]

Source: Raw Story

'Extra labeling only confuses the consumer,' biotech spokesman says

That the Food and Drug Administration is opposed to labeling foods that are genetically modified is no surprise anymore, but a report in the Washington Post indicates the FDA won't even allow food producers to label their foods as being free of genetic modification.

In reporting that the FDA will likely not require the labeling of genetically modified salmon if it approves the food product for consumption, the Post's Lyndsey Layton notes that the federal agency "won't let conventional food makers trumpet the fact that their products don't contain genetically modified ingredients."

"The agency warned the dairy industry in 1994 that it could not use "Hormone Free" labeling on milk from cows that are not given engineered hormones, because all milk contains some hormones."

"It has sent a flurry of enforcement letters to food makers, including B&G Foods, which was told it could not use the phrase "GMO-free" on its Polaner All Fruit strawberry spread label because GMO refers to genetically modified organisms and strawberries are produce, not organisms."

Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/09/fda-labeled-free-modification/

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[PSPS]

1. Yes, we mustn't let the citizens know what's being put in their food.

It might be "bad for business." And, to the FDA, it's all about business.

[Wilms]

2. The same was done with growth-hormone laced dairy products. n/t

But I think the ban on advertising hormone-free dairy was lifted.

[sandnsea]

3. Because they're misleading people

Polaner never did contain any GMO. Other products are claiming they're free of GE ingredients when its not possible for the product to contain GE ingredients to begin with.

http://www.cspinet.org/new/gefoods_labeling.html

[Tumbulu]

4. So there is all this "free speech" when it comes to porn, but no freedom

for truth in food labeling.......

[valerief]

5. You'd think a corporation would have free speech. nt

[Dead_Parrot]

12. What about organic porn?

I feel a few hours research may be in order...

[Quantess]

6. "Extra labeling only confuses the consumer" = consumers are dumb

and we want them to stay uninformed.

[Francesca9]

7. We have too many GMO foods to even think about labels now

[whoneedstickets]

8. Same logic used to prevent a "BSE tested" label on beef..

..it would rapidly result in everyone testing because of consumer demand. Its always about $. Fuck the consumer.

[Francesca9]

9. The repugs keep sticking gmos into our food

[arikara]

10. You can figure that anything containing corn, soy, canola

is frankenfood. These substances are in nearly all processed foods in some form. The high fructose corn syrup is the sweetener of choice for most soft drinks. Canola oil is used in most baked goods. Soy is in pretty much everything as well. Other food like substances are coming down the pipe all the time without any notification or choice in the matter. Sugar beets are now GM, and most sugar is from beets instead of sugar cane.

The only way to avoid them is to stay away from processed foods entirely. Difficult, but not impossible. As for salmon, we never buy unless we know for sure that its not farmed.

[Lucian]

11. How is labeling it "GMO-free" confusing?

It should only be confusing to a complete idiot.

But that's not why the FDA wants to do it. Letting people know what's in their food is bad business. If people know there's genetically-altered stuff in their food, they may be more inclined not to buy it.