I am often asked which genetically engineered (GM) crops have entered the U.S. food supply. The question can be answered with a little research because GM crops are regulated by the [USDA and FDA]. And both agencies list on their websites all GM crops that have completed their respective regulatory process.
[Editor’s note: Greg Jaffe is the Biotechnology Project Director at the Center for Science in the Public Interest.]
More recently, I have been asked the same question about gene-edited crops. Unfortunately, this time the answer is elusive. At least some gene-edited crops (such as those with small deletions) are likely to elude regulation by both USDA and FDA, so there will be no complete list of products that have concluded regulatory review and are ready for commercial production.
To fix that problem, the federal government should establish a national gene-edited-crops registry so that consumers, journalists, food companies, and anyone else who is interested can easily identify the gene-edited crops and ingredients in our food. To do so will help allay consumer concerns about this emerging technology and allow the benefits of this new technology to be realized.
Read full, original article: Biotech Blog: A Call for a National Registry of Gene-Edited Agricultural Crops
