USDA's New Labeling For GMO Foods Effective Jan 1st

[Bling 31,703]

The USDA’s new labeling for genetically modified foods goes into effect Jan. 1. Here’s what you need to know:

The agency has done away with familiar terms like ‘GMOs’ and has built in loopholes for tiny producers, and foods made with meat and eggs.

Foods that previously were labeled as containing “genetically engineered” (GE) ingredients or “genetically modified organisms” (GMOs) will now be labeled as “bioengineered,” or come with a phone number or QR code guiding consumers to more information online.

The changes are part of the USDA’s new rules on controversial modified crops and ingredients. Previous labeling requirements were governed differently on a state-by-state basis. By providing a uniform, national standard for labeling bioengineered foods, “it avoids a patchwork of state labeling regulations,” a USDA spokeswoman said in a statement.

The move is universally confounding food safety advocate groups. Eating bioengineered foods poses no risk to human health, according to the National Academy of Sciences and the Food and Drug Administration. However, watchdog organizations say the new rules contain too many loopholes for consumers who want to avoid these foods.

"The worst part of this law is the use of the term ‘bioengineered’ because that’s not a term most consumers are familiar with,” said Gregory Jaffe, director of the project on biotechnology for the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest. He said this choice was in large measure because “GMO” had come to be perceived as pejorative.

Other advocacy groups such as the Center for Food Safety say the rules don’t go far enough and will leave the majority of genetically modified foods unlabeled. And the new rules discriminate against the more than 100 million Americans who do not have access to smartphones or cell service, because companies will be allowed to rely on smartphone-based scannable QR codes to share information with consumers.

Continued here (https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/01/01/usda-bioengineered-food-rules/)

 

 

Ugh the USDA is such a joke, just like the FDA. We have a right to know what foods are genetically modified before purchasing. This is CLEARLY just to confuse consumers 

[papergangster 2,823]

So organic is still the best option right? 

[Gagaloo911 12,959]

GMO is so misunderstood. It's not inherently a bad thing. Literally all corn is GMO due to how humans cultivated it for hundreds of years such that it literally can't exist on its own without humans now.

All crops that have been with humans since we started cultivating and growing them on our own are "GMO".

Also, if it wasn't for "GMO" we couldn't feed everyone alive rn...

 

[PartySick 174,209]

11 minutes ago, Gagaloo911 said:

GMO is so misunderstood. It's not inherently a bad thing. Literally all corn is GMO due to how humans cultivated it for hundreds of years such that it literally can't exist on its own without humans now.

All crops that have been with humans since we started cultivating and growing them on our own are "GMO".

Also, if it wasn't for "GMO" we couldn't feed everyone alive rn...

 

Thank you.

It's a minor pet peeve of mine when people see "GMO" and imagine some scientist in a lab making "Frankenstein's crop" or something

It's literally a revolution in selective breeding and genetics. The benefits VASTLY outweigh any negatives.

[PartySick 174,209]

1 hour ago, WheresMy911Alice said:

The worst part of this law is the use of the term ‘bioengineered’ because that’s not a term most consumers are familiar with

It's like swapping "global warming" for "climate change". Anyone with common sense will know what that means and anyone who doesn't have common sense is probably terrified of the previous phrase because of the fear mongering and misinformation around it 

[Morphine Prince 109,926]

16 minutes ago, Gagaloo911 said:

GMO is so misunderstood. It's not inherently a bad thing. Literally all corn is GMO due to how humans cultivated it for hundreds of years such that it literally can't exist on its own without humans now.

All crops that have been with humans since we started cultivating and growing them on our own are "GMO".

Also, if it wasn't for "GMO" we couldn't feed everyone alive rn...

 

This. 

There are MANY issues with the food industry, but that’s beside the point. 

If it wasn’t for GMOs, bioengineered food, our current society would not be possible. 

Do you guys realize the population BOOM we had in the last century? The way humans had to come up with ways in which the food industry could sustain this growing population? 

Agriculture and GMOs are one of the best things humanity has ever done. 

I am begging you to learn what GMOs are and what bioengineering is before simply labeling it as “bad” because some 45 year old mom on Facebook trying to sell you essential oils told you so. 

[gabeoz 7,915]

1 hour ago, Morphine Prince said:

This. 

There are MANY issues with the food industry, but that’s beside the point. 

If it wasn’t for GMOs, bioengineered food, our current society would not be possible. 

Do you guys realize the population BOOM we had in the last century? The way humans had to come up with ways in which the food industry could sustain this growing population? 

Agriculture and GMOs are one of the best things humanity has ever done. 

I am begging you to learn what GMOs are and what bioengineering is before simply labeling it as “bad” because some 45 year old mom on Facebook trying to sell you essential oils told you so. 

This ^ not to mention the fact that you’re still potentially putting yourself at a much higher risk with “non gmo” foods. Bioengineering is also used for things like making crops more resistant to diseases and certain insects. Without that engineered into the crop you still have to create that protection through things like pesticides and other chemical treatments.  
Just about any potential negative of GMO foods is just vastly outweighed by the positive effects both societally and in personal health.

[Bling 31,703]

1 hour ago, Gagaloo911 said:

GMO is so misunderstood. It's not inherently a bad thing. Literally all corn is GMO due to how humans cultivated it for hundreds of years such that it literally can't exist on its own without humans now.

All crops that have been with humans since we started cultivating and growing them on our own are "GMO".

Also, if it wasn't for "GMO" we couldn't feed everyone alive rn...

 

 

1 hour ago, PartySick said:

Thank you.

It's a minor pet peeve of mine when people see "GMO" and imagine some scientist in a lab making "Frankenstein's crop" or something

It's literally a revolution in selective breeding and genetics. The benefits VASTLY outweigh any negatives.

I think the point here is consumers have a right to choose foods that do not include GMOs, regardless of whether we think they're good or bad. 

So if they're just including some QR code or website without any mention of GMO, a lot of shoppers will just think it's something related to the brand. Not to mention all the people who don't know how QR codes work or have smartphones.

I'm neutral but thought it was an interesting development as I'm highly critical of USDA and them being in bed with big Pharma and Lobbyists...

[PartySick 174,209]

6 minutes ago, WheresMy911Alice said:

 

I think the point here is consumers have a right to choose foods that do not include GMOs, regardless of whether we think they're good or bad. 

So if they're just including some QR code or website without any mention of GMO, a lot of shoppers will just think it's something related to the brand. Not to mention all the people who don't know how QR codes work or have smartphones.

I'm neutral but thought it was an interesting development as I'm highly critical of USDA and them being in bed with big Pharma and Lobbyists...

Eh, I don't personally think it's a big deal.

Anyone that's trying to avoid GMOs (for whatever reason) is probably looking up name brands and products before hand anyway

[Married the Night 3,955]

I literally do not care if my food is GMO or not.