How come genetically modified foods aren't required to be labeled as such?

Question

How come genetically modified foods aren't required to be labeled as such?

Answer 1

Because Monsanto has lobbied the FDA, USDA and most state Agriculture Depts. to keep GMO food from being labelled.

Monsanto claims that GMO's are substantially equivelant to food that has not been gene spliced and yet they will not allow consumers to make their own choice as to whether or no they will eat GMO food by never labeling food that contain GMO grains (which is around 95% of all processed foods-anything with corn, cotton seed, canola or soy in the ingredients).

Now Monsanto is making moves to not allow labels to say things like "GMO Free". Monsanto has already made it illegal in many states (Iowa and Ohio to name two) to have GMO free zones (zones where GMO growing is illegal).

If GMO's are so wonderful what are they hiding?!?

Answer 2

At least USDA Organic is still non-GM. So why  label the rest as most is GM now.

Answer 3

cause then money would most likely be lost, and the food companies support the government and also the medical industry so people get health problems from foods and need to take meds to get over those ailments, and then more meds from those side effects on so on and so forth..  so all these big corporations would lose money.  

"absolute power corrupts absolutely"

Answer 4

Good one.....ask Creator it's his work that is getting modified...no really because that's one that is needed they pick on the pure food enough...because the F.D.A. hasn't thought of it yet ....or they are the money ball.

Answer 5

Those Governments that do not require labelling are making a mistake.  But an even bigger mistake is to allow GM foods in the first place.  They are a serious threat to the environment and possibly to health too.

Governments generally control the introduction of alien species because of past experience (for example grey squirrels were introduced to the UK and have become a serious pest because they do not have natural predators in the UK).  The same goes for Rhododendrons which have taken over large areas of woodland with loss of biodiversity.  Well GM organisms are likely to have unpredictable effects too and so should be avoided.  The tests that have been done in the UK have shown that they can do environmental damage.  Some health impacts are beginning to emerge too.

With labelling at least the public can exercise their right to avoid GM food but best of all would be to outlaw the release of GM organisms into the environment.  They belong only in secure laboratories.

Answer 6

Because there is no demonstrated link between genetic modification and any impact on health, at least, not anything that has been performed by respectable institutions or bodies.

Answer 7

FDA's authority over food labeling is based on section 403 of the act (21 U.S.C. 343). Section 403(i) of the act requires that, in the case of foods fabricated from two or more ingredients, a food product bear on the label the common or usual name of each ingredient, unless compliance with the requirement for labeling is impracticable or results in deception or unfair competition. FDA considers an "ingredient" to be a substance used to fabricate (i.e., manufacture or produce) a food. FDA does not consider those substances that are inherent components of food to be ingredients that must be disclosed in the food's label.

For example, a genetic substance introduced into a plant by breeding becomes an inherent part of the plant as well as of all foods derived from the plant. Consistent with FDA's general approach on ingredient labeling, the agency has not treated as an ingredient a new constituent of a plant introduced by breeding, regardless of the method used to develop the new plant variety.

Answer 8

Maybe because the genetic modification isn't supposed to affect the eater.  As in eating beef doesn't make you a cow, or eating chicken a bird...Regards, Mike

Answer 9

Some stores gave up because people really didn't care.

Genetically engineered food does nothing different.

The DNA is just changed to produce more.

Its like this, say you have 1 piece of paper.

You need 6 sheets for i dont know, index cards to help you study.

You would rip it into 6 pieces. Now, you have more of what you need, cheaper and faster than using 6 regular pieces of paper.