The issue of labeling foods that contain genetically modified ingredients has taken hold in states around the country, and more than 20 have seen ballot measures or legislative initiatives in the past two years.
Advocates for labeling say they would prefer that the federal Food and Drug Administration take the lead, requiring that companies put labels on food packages that give consumers a heads-up that ingredients inside are made with genetically modified organisms. Those might include substances such as corn, which is widely used in processed foods and more often than not has been genetically modified to help counter pests and boost yields.
The FDA hasn’t agreed to do so. It says that foods from genetically engineered plants must only meet the same safety requirements as foods from traditionally bred plants.
And while the agency says on its website that “we recognize and appreciate the strong interest that many consumers have in knowing whether a food was produced using genetic engineering,” it supports only voluntary labeling.
That has shifted the battle to the states, where advocates of labeling are hopeful they can accomplish in legislatures and voting booths what hasn’t been accomplished in Washington.
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Read the full original article: For advocates of GMO food labels, battle is in states, and wins elusive
