The Washington Post reports that as of January 1st, foods previously referred to as having “genetically modified organisms,” or GMO’s, will now be on your supermarket shelves labeled “bioengineered” instead. The changes are part of the Department of Agriculture’s new rules on “genetically modified organisms” or GMOs.
However, some of the old labels consumers are familiar with will remain, like certified “USDA Organic” and “Non-GMO Project Verified.”
Confused? You’re not the only one. The USDA has said the change “avoids a patchwork of state labeling regulations” to provide a national standard for the labels that were once set on a state-by-state basis, but critics say the term could create confusion among consumers. “The worst part of this law is the use of the term ‘bioengineered’ because that’s not a term most consumers are familiar with,” Gregory Jaffe, director of Center for Science in the Public Interest’s biotechnology project, said in an interview with The Post.
A phone number or QR code on the packaging may also direct consumers to more information, a decision some argue discriminates against people without access to a cell phone or smartphone.
The Center for Food Safety has also criticized the rules, saying it will leave the majority of genetically modified foods unlabeled. Specifically, the USDA sets an exemption threshold at 5 percent of “unintended” genetically engineered ingredients. In the European Union, the standard is markedly lower at 0.9 percent. “Consumers are left not knowing if it’s not present or if a food company just chose not to disclose,” Peter Lurie, president of Center for Science in the Public Interest, said in an interview with The Post.
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