{"id":35113,"date":"2020-04-01T01:07:45","date_gmt":"2020-04-01T08:07:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/womensvoice.com\/en-us\/?p=35113"},"modified":"2020-04-02T06:59:35","modified_gmt":"2020-04-02T13:59:35","slug":"new-bioengeneered-label-sows-confusion-to-hide-gmos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/womensvoice.com\/en-us\/articles\/nutrition\/new-bioengeneered-label-sows-confusion-to-hide-gmos\/","title":{"rendered":"New Bioengineered Label Sows Confusion to Hide GMOs"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” specialty=”off” next_background_color=”#000000″ inner_width=”auto” inner_max_width=”none”][et_pb_fullwidth_image _builder_version=”4.0.11″ src=”https:\/\/womensvoice.com\/en-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2020\/03\/header-Bioengeneered-Label.jpg” box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_tablet=”0px” z_index_tablet=”500″ alt=”Tomato with a QR code sticker” title_text=”New Bioengineered Label Sows Confusion to Hide GMOs” \/][et_pb_fullwidth_code admin_label=”Text – Fullwidth Leader Text” _builder_version=”4.0.11″ module_id=”fullwidth-leader-text” z_index_tablet=”500″]What\u2019s in a government mandated food label? When seen on a product in the grocery aisle, does it give the consumer valuable information or does it create confusion? As is often the case when the government mandates new or different food-labeling practices, it isn\u2019t easy to predict the answers to such questions. That\u2019s why food producers and grocery shoppers alike are scratching their heads over the new \u201cbioengineered\u201d labels soon to hit store shelves in 2020.<\/pee>[\/et_pb_fullwidth_code][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”off” specialty=”off” prev_background_color=”#000000″ inner_width=”auto” inner_max_width=”none”][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ custom_padding__hover=”|||” custom_padding=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text – Body Content” _builder_version=”4.0.11″ text_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”text_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ text_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_vertical_length=”text_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ text_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_blur_strength=”text_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ text_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” link_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”link_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ 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The aim of designing the new bioengineered label was to create one national standard for GMO labeling instead of a dizzying array of labels.<\/p>\n

We think the reason people are scratching their heads is because the law is flawed. The aim of designing the new bioengineered label was to create one national standard for GMO labeling instead of a dizzying array of labels. Many feel this is the excuse that was given by industry and government because the reality is that only one state had implemented a GMO labeling law. It was simple and modelled on other states\u2019 proposed regulations.<\/p>\n

The proposed rule agreed that products containing GMOs simply stated \u201cproduced from genetic engineering\u201d in plain text right on the package. Although a handful of states had passed such GMO labeling laws, Vermont was the only state that succeeded in implementing its law which went into effect on July 1, 2016.<\/p>\n

As a result of Vermont\u2019s law, food companies began to label GMOs on food products at the national level, to avoid having to create unique packaging just for Vermont. So there was not a patchwork of labels as was claimed by the industry as the reason for the new \u201cbioengineered label.\u201d Unfortunately, Vermont\u2019s law was very short-lived, and following intense lobbying by the agribusiness industry, Congress swiftly passed federal legislation banning any state from passing a GMO labeling law. This federal legislation was dubbed by food transparency organizations as \u201cthe DARK Act\u201d (Deny Americans Right to Know). Its official name is \u201cThe National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Law.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"A central concern of this new federal legislation is that it forces companies to use the confusing new term \u201cbioengineered\u201d instead of the well-known term \u201cGMO\u201d which is the terminology used globally (including by organizations such as the World Health Organization) and widely understood by consumers both here in North America and abroad.<\/p>\n

Do you wonder why would an industry want to introduce a brand-new term instead of using a widely established and understood word? And it is essential to know that ever since GMOs entered the market, polls have shown the vast majority of Americans and Canadians (over 90%) want to see these products labeled, just as they are in 64 countries around the world.<\/p>\n

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The word \u201cBIOENGINEERED\u201d is a new term that has not been used before. \u201cGMO\u201d is the terminology used GLOBALLY (including organizations such as the World Health Organization ) and this term is well known to the American and Canadian consumer.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Let\u2019s take a look at the facts behind the new \u201cbioengineered\u201d label and why it is PROBLEMATIC ON MANY LEVELS.<\/p>\n

FIRST<\/strong>, instead of having to provide clear text identifying GMO content in food products \u2013 as is done in Europe \u2013 companies can instead opt for a symbol, a 1-800 number, or a digital QR code (the latter leaving over 100 million Americans who do not own smart phones in the dark).<\/p>\n

SECOND<\/strong>, the majority of GMOs actually won\u2019t be labeled because of provisions in the law that exempt highly refined products that contain GMOs, such as cooking oils, candies, and soda. Another concern is under the new regulations, the threshold for the unintended presence of GMO ingredients is set high at 5%. This percentage is five times higher than what the European Union allows, at 0.9%.<\/p>\n

THIRD<\/strong>, instead of using the widely used and internationally recognized term \u201cGMO,\u201d the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has decided to create unnecessary confusion by forcing companies to use the term \u201cbioengineered,\u201d a previously unknown and unused word which is likely to confuse and mislead American consumers.<\/p>\n

FOURTH<\/strong>, the new symbol identifying \u201cbioengineered\u201d content is far from neutral, picturing a bucolic green field that seems to directly imply that the product with the label is healthy or natural.<\/p>\n

FIFTH<\/strong>, newer techniques such as gene editing, synthetic biology, and RNAi are not subject to labeling, and food serving establishments such as restaurants and food manufacturers making less than 2.5 million dollars per year are exempt from having to comply with the law, so once again, no disclosure.<\/p>\n

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The USDA has betrayed the public trust by denying Americans the right to know how their food is produced. Instead of providing clarity and transparency, the USDA has created large scale confusion and uncertainty for consumers, food producers, and retailers. Andrew Kimbrell, Executive Director, Center for Food Safety<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Still, there are bigger questions. Does this new \u201cbioengineered\u201d label do anything to prove or disprove the safety of GMOs? The USDA itself says it doesn\u2019t, noting that its task is labeling; it\u2019s the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that would need to rule on the health and safety questions. Food manufacturers who have been certified organic are exempted from the labeling rule, since organic certification already strictly prohibits the use of any GMOs. The new labeling requirement applies to all, but the smallest food manufacturers. Participation is voluntary for those manufacturers under $2.5 million in annual receipts.<\/p>\n

All of this may seem straightforward, but as in most things, the devil is in the details. For example, how far up the food chain should the labeling requirements go? Some organic food purveyors think it\u2019s inappropriate that the USDA intends to allow egg producers to avoid \u201cbioengineered\u201d labeling when they\u2019re feeding their chickens GMO feed. Others complain that food manufacturers can effectively avoid labeling bioengineered ingredients simply by putting enough meat or egg in it, to list first in the ingredient panel.<\/p>\n

Lastly, critics wonder if the new label will really meet its goal of consumer education, especially if many manufacturers opt to offer \u201cmore information\u201d to shoppers via a QR code instead of a clear text label. The USDA itself acknowledges that 85% of consumers are unaccustomed to that weird pattern of lines and squiggles, aka the QR code, but what\u2019s worse is they don\u2019t have a clue how to use it! Inaccessible information is the same as no information at all, say critics. To offer true transparency the industry needs to give the consumers information they want and simply label genetically modified food just as they are in 64 countries around the world.<\/p>\n

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The new bioengineered law and label was created and designed by the GMO industry, to benefit the industry, not the consumer. Consumers should familiarize themselves with the new \u201cbioengineered\u201d logo and understand \u201cbioengineered\u201d is now the new term used by food companies to replace \u201cGMO.\u201d<\/p>\n

The new bioengineered law has many flaws and loopholes. When buying food, the best way to avoid GMOs is to buy non-GMO Project Verified foods and \u201ccertified organic.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"ISURA\u2122<\/a><\/p>\n

For dietary supplements, look for the ISURA<\/a> seal of quality. When you see the ISURA Seal of Approval on a product label, it means that the product has undergone a stringent battery of laboratory tests to confirm that its ingredients are:<\/p>\n