Genetically modified foods shouldn’t be labeled as such, U.S. argues

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Booster Shots recently blogged about an international trade meeting that addressed, among other things, whether genetically modified foods should be labeled as such.

The United States argues that they shouldn’t -- because, it says, to do so is to imply that GMO foods are somehow different. The U.S. also doesn’t want the rules to let countries set their own standards on this issue -- because, again, it would imply that GM foods are somehow different.

Before the meeting, which took place in Quebec a few days ago, 80 groups including the Consumers Union had sent a letter of concern to the Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture about this position.

The U.S. didn’t budge from its position at the Canada meeting, apparently, in opposition to most countries there. The issue is to be taken up at a later date.

The meeting is for the Codex Alimentarius, a kind of international set of rules that govern food trade standards. Consumers Union is concerned that if the U.S.’ desires prevail, it could lead to a ban on ‘GMO-free’ labels. According to a news release, the group has now called on the Obama administration to endorse the compromise that most countries represented at the meeting favored: letting different countries to do their own thing on the matter.

Here’s an article about the issue at Food Safety News.

-- Rosie Mestel