Confused about the USDA’s bioengineered food labels? Here’s everything you need to know

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Image: The Penny Hoarder

In December 2018, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) finalized the standards for mandatory “GMO” labeling by releasing the “National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard” (or NBFDS). The NBFDS establishes the rules of the road for disclosing which foods in the U.S. have been or may have been bioengineered (BE)….

….First, the labeling standard acknowledges that many people want to know if the foods they are consuming were derived from “GMO” (bioengineered) crops. Just as importantly, the standard provides this information without frightening imagery that could lead consumers to believe GMO/BE food is labeled because it is something to be concerned about or avoided entirely.

…

Bioengineered….is honestly a much better term for the 10 “GMO” crops commercially available today in the U.S….The term “GMO” creates confusion because virtually everything we eat has had its genes modified in some way, whether through very traditional plant breeding processes or through more modern means of seed breeding.

…

This means that “GMO” or “genetically modified” is simply too vague of a phrase to talk about one type of breeding technique, potentially referring to any or all of them. “Bioengineered” or “BE” gets much closer to the foods consumers are actually trying to learn about….

Read full, original article: Here’s everything you need to know about USDA’s National Bioengineered (BE) Food Disclosure Standard

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