In the future, companies that use genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, as ingredients in their products will have to label them as such regardless of the amount the products contain. This decision means that the Korean government is partially accepting demands by the opposition party and civic groups – including the Citizens’ Coalition for Economic Justice (CCEJ) – to adopt a system for labeling all GMOs.
However, since the labeling requirement still only applies when genetically modified proteins remain in the final product, critics argue that the system does not adequately guarantee consumers’ right to know.
On Jan. 25, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced the system is being altered to make it mandatory for all genetically modified ingredients in products to be labeled. This reflects criticism that numerous loopholes were undermining customer choice and consumers’ right to know.
Until now, companies were only required to label GMOs when they were one of the five main ingredients. As a result, it was common for companies to not label GMOs even when they were used to make soybean oil, snacks, and bread.
Read full, original article: Regardless of amount, GMO products to now be labeled, ministry says
