May 16, 2014 - Blogs
Heated legislation surrounding GMOs—specifically regarding mandatory labeling of products containing them—has heightened consumer awareness, calling on the food and beverage industry to take an active role in educating consumers about GMO ingredients.
In January, more than 200 businesses and organizations urged President Obama to require food companies to disclose GMOs on labels. The businesses and groups referenced a 2007 speech from the then Illinois senator that pledged he would grant consumers the right to know if GMOs are present in their food.
On May 9, Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin signed the nation’s first no-strings-attached bill that requires GMOs in food to be labeled. Food manufacturers will have time to make the transition. Genetically modified foods will need to be labeled as of July 1, 2016. Nearly 30 states are considering similar legislation.
A pending bill in front of the New York State Assembly would make mandatory labeling law, but new research from Cornell University suggests mandatory labeling of foods with GMO ingredients would increase the cost of food for a family of four by about $500 a year, in addition to the millions of dollars it would cost the to implement and monitor labeling.
Gregory Jaffe, director, biotechnology project, Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), Washington, D.C., said both the proponents and opponents of genetically-engineered (GE) crops have introduced diametrically opposed legislation on the issue of mandatory labeling of foods made from GE crops. He said it is unlikely that Congress will take up this debate in 2014.
The GMO debate continues with growing concerns from consumers.
Food Product Design had the chance to sit down with him to discuss why GMO ingredients are important in the supply chain and how companies can work toward absolving consumer concerns surrounding such ingredients.Click here to read the interview.
Heated legislation surrounding GMOs—specifically regarding mandatory labeling of products containing them—has heightened consumer awareness, calling on the food and beverage industry to take an active role in educating consumers about GMO ingredients.
In January, more than 200 businesses and organizations urged President Obama to require food companies to disclose GMOs on labels. The businesses and groups referenced a 2007 speech from the then Illinois senator that pledged he would grant consumers the right to know if GMOs are present in their food.
On May 9, Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin signed the nation’s first no-strings-attached bill that requires GMOs in food to be labeled. Food manufacturers will have time to make the transition. Genetically modified foods will need to be labeled as of July 1, 2016. Nearly 30 states are considering similar legislation.
A pending bill in front of the New York State Assembly would make mandatory labeling law, but new research from Cornell University suggests mandatory labeling of foods with GMO ingredients would increase the cost of food for a family of four by about $500 a year, in addition to the millions of dollars it would cost the to implement and monitor labeling.
Gregory Jaffe, director, biotechnology project, Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), Washington, D.C., said both the proponents and opponents of genetically-engineered (GE) crops have introduced diametrically opposed legislation on the issue of mandatory labeling of foods made from GE crops. He said it is unlikely that Congress will take up this debate in 2014.
The GMO debate continues with growing concerns from consumers.
Heated legislation surrounding GMOs—specifically regarding mandatory labeling of products containing them—has heightened consumer awareness, calling on the food and beverage industry to take an active role in educating consumers about GMO ingredients.
In January, more than 200 businesses and organizations urged President Obama to require food companies to disclose GMOs on labels. The businesses and groups referenced a 2007 speech from the then Illinois senator that pledged he would grant consumers the right to know if GMOs are present in their food.
On May 9, Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin signed the nation’s first no-strings-attached bill that requires GMOs in food to be labeled. Food manufacturers will have time to make the transition. Genetically modified foods will need to be labeled as of July 1, 2016. Nearly 30 states are considering similar legislation.
A pending bill in front of the New York State Assembly would make mandatory labeling law, but new research fromCornell University suggests mandatory labeling of foods with GMO ingredients would increase the cost of food for a family of four by about $500 a year, in addition to the millions of dollars it would cost the to implement and monitor labeling.
Gregory Jaffe, director, biotechnology project, Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), Washington, D.C., said both the proponents and opponents of genetically-engineered (GE) crops have introduced diametrically opposed legislation on the issue of mandatory labeling of foods made from GE crops. He said it is unlikely that Congress will take up this debate in 2014.
Jaffe is a featured speaker at Ingredient Marketplace, June 2-3, in New York, and will discuss the hot topic in his presentation, “Biotechnology and the Future of the Ingredient Supply Chain,"
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