Obama Signs GMO Labeling Law

In addition to the standard Nutrition Facts labels, products will soon have to include another identification.  On Friday, President Obama signed by S.764, which creates a standard for foods produced with genetically modified organisms.  Congress passed the legislation to necessitate labeling on all food packages to indicate the presence of GMO’s.

However, the exact definition of the label is not nailed down.  While White House spokesperson Katie Hill has said that the “measure will provide new opportunities for consumers to have access to information about their food,” food-labeling advocates are pointing out the pit-falls.  Companies are allows to use QR codes and 1-800 numbers as a form of labeling.

This is a valid concern given that GMOs are estimated to be in 75%-80% of our food supply.  While the Food and Drug Administration has already stated that these ingredients are safe for consumption, advocates of the labeling law are the point is the right to know what is in our food.  Thus, some critics of the law are even calling the bill the DARK act, for “Denying Americans the Right to Know.”

And while industry titans and analysts suggest that more specific labeling will be too expensive, 64 countries already require the identification.  The Department of Agriculture has two years to complete the rules.  To read more, click here.