3.6 Food Safety and Labeling

Numerous authoritative groups worldwide have concluded that modern gene transfer technologies offer no unique risk to human or animal health or the environment. These groups include official commissions, scientific bodies, and international organizations, such as the OECD, the Codex Alimentarius Commission and our own US government, which are staffed with experts from all relevant disciplines.

The evaluation of food, food ingredients, and animal feed obtained from organisms developed using rDNA technology does not require a fundamental change in established principles of food safety; nor does it require a different standard of safety. The science that underlies biotechnology-derived foods does not support more stringent safety standards than those that apply to conventional foods. Current FDA policy reflects this view.

Federal law requires specific labeling on food products to inform consumers of the existence of material facts that are significant and relevant to the issues of safety, efficacy, and purity. Any changes to a food product that alter the chemical or nutritional composition or allergenicity of the product must be disclosed to the consumer. Under this requirement, if a food derived from modern biotechnology affects any of these aspects, FDA requires that the food be so labeled. If the product is not materially different from its conventional counterpart, it does not require special labeling. NASDA supports the role and responsibility of FDA to determine appropriate food labeling and to provide regulatory guidance to the food industry on the voluntary labeling of products to meet consumer preferences. The agency should communicate a clear definition as to what constitutes genetically modified food or food products and require that voluntary labeling claims can be substantiated by identity-preserved supply chains based on a clear and factual certification process. The Federal Trade Commission should develop comparable guidelines for advertising claims about food biotechnology.

Industry has the legal responsibility to ensure the safety of foods and feeds it puts on the market, and governments have the legal responsibility to ensure oversight of foods, feeds and food or feed ingredients. These duties are important whether the products are produced by biotechnology, conventional or organic means; it is imperative that a safe and stable food and feed supply is ensured and maintained.