The FDA says there is no need to label GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) plants... Do you agree?

2015-11-25T23:34:12-05:00

Genetically engineered plants that have been approved for sale don't need labels — and people can be assured they're safe to eat, the Food and Drug Administration said Monday.

The FDA issued new rules about labeling GM plant foods at the same time as last week's approval of the first genetically modified (GM) animal approved for the U.S. food market — a salmon engineered to grow faster than usual.

The FDA said the salmon was safe to eat and was nutritionally equivalent to other, non-GM salmon on the market. It also said GM salmon didn't pose a risk to wild salmon because it would be farmed inland from any oceans.

The agency sent out a reminder about the requirements for plant foods on Monday.

"The agency is not aware of any valid scientific information showing that foods derived from genetically engineered plants, as a class of foods, differ from other foods in any meaningful way. GE (genetically engineered) foods don't present greater safety concerns than foods developed by traditional plant breeding," it said.

"However, if a food derived from a genetically engineered plant is materially different from its traditional counterpart, the labeling of that food must disclose such differences," the FDA said.

For instance, canola oil that's been genetically engineered to have more lauric acid — a so-called good fat — must be labeled "laurate canola oil."

"Similarly, soybean oil containing higher levels of oleic acid than conventional soybean oil must be labeled 'high oleic soybean oil'," FDA said.

Otherwise, it's up to the manufacturer to label any food. This sets the U.S. apart from the European Union, Australia and China, which require the labels. Consumer and environmental groups have long pressed for the FDA to require labels on GM foods, but the FDA says there's no need.

"Food manufacturers may voluntarily label their foods with information about whether the foods were not produced using bioengineering, as long as such information is truthful and not misleading," the FDA said.

Foods that are genetically engineered have new traits added by splicing in DNA or other genetic material directly into the chromosome, instead of using the more time-consuming process of cross-breeding plants in the hope of introducing the desired traits.

Sometimes it works well, like crops engineered to resist the herbicide Roundup. Other times, it flops, like the Flavr Savr tomato that was meant to stay firm as it ripened on the vine but didn't. The process worries some consumers, who fear the new genes might somehow be harmful to them or to the environment.

The FDA says it checks both carefully before approving any new genetically modified plant.

For labels, the FDA doesn't particularly like the term "GMO," mostly because the "O" refers to the word "organism" — and it's not really clear what that means.

Phrasing the FDA likes better:

"Genetically engineered" or "This product contains cornmeal from corn that was produced using modern biotechnology."
"Some of our growers plant soybean seeds that were developed through modern biotechnology to be drought tolerant."
And if food makers want to say their food's free of genetically engineered ingredients, they can say something along the lines of:

"Not bioengineered."
"Not genetically engineered."
"Not genetically modified through the use of modern biotechnology."
"We do not use ingredients that were produced using modern biotechnology."
It's very difficult to avoid genetically engineered plants, the FDA pointed out.

"In 2013, in the United States, bioengineered soybeans made up 93 percent of the acreage of planted soybeans, bioengineered cotton made up 90 percent of the acreage of planted cotton, and bioengineered corn varieties made up 90 percent of the acreage of planted corn," it said.

"In addition, bioengineered sugar beets accounted for 95 percent of the acreage of planted sugar beets in the 2009-2010 crop year."

http://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/theres-no-need-label-gmo-plants-fda-says-n468301

There's No Need to Label GMO Plants, FDA Says

Genetically engineered plants that have been approved for sale don't need labels and people can be assured they're safe to eat, the Food and Drug Admi

Response by SGT Kevin Turman made Nov 25 at 2015 11:35 PM

2015-11-25T23:35:51-05:00

I completely disagree. They should be labeled as GMO or not.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Nov 25 at 2015 11:39 PM

2015-11-25T23:39:25-05:00

It really is an Interesting Debate right now. GM, Selective Breeding of Plants which technically speaking is Genetically Modifying has been done for as long as man has been farming, The thing now is we can do it in ways that doesn't take near as many generations of that plant to occur. We probably are going to have to define and redefine some terms and probably at some point we will require some kind of labeling.

Response by SSgt Terry P. made Nov 25 at 2015 11:40 PM

2015-11-25T23:40:47-05:00

MSgt Curtis Ellis No,sir, i do not agree. If it isn't natural,we should know.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 25 at 2015 11:49 PM

2015-11-25T23:49:25-05:00

No, i do not agree. I believe our bodies evolved genetically to ensure the regional foods our ancestors ate were easily digestible. What the Asians eat isn't necessarily what those of us who have European or African ancestory should be eating. It takes several generations to develop the ability to digest certain foods. I don't believe the one size fits all diet fads are good for people who are not indigenous to the areas the diets originate.

http://commonhealth.wbur.org/2011/11/oldways-traditional-eating

Just like kale became a fad diet, there was also an unintended consequence of over eating it; thallium poisoning.

http://firstwefeast.com/eat/eating-too-much-kale-may-result-in-thallium-poisoning/

The G6PD protein deficiency describes a natural immunity to malaria due to the fava bean. The deficiency developed in areas with high occurrences of malaria. It was a natural defense that evolved by a regional area.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6337653

‘Old Ways’ Of Healthy Eating By Ethnic Group

Oldways, a Cambridge non-profit, recommends ethnic-based traditional eating for better health.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 25 at 2015 11:54 PM

2015-11-25T23:54:39-05:00

I don't need to read that article to say "NO." The FDA, by doing this, makes their name and what they stand for less reputable.
Person - "The FDA approves it."
Me - "That means little to nothing."

Response by MSgt John Carroll made Nov 26 at 2015 12:18 AM

2015-11-26T00:18:50-05:00

Farmers have been attempting to do this forever. It is all about getting the best harvest. Sometimes that means bigger crops. Sometimes that means disease resistance crops. etc...We finally get technologically advanced enough to do this and now people don't want it. Personally, I don't see a problem with it.

Response by Sgt Spencer Sikder made Nov 26 at 2015 2:25 PM

2015-11-26T14:25:47-05:00

With our farming families declining and the population of our world increasing, there needs to be some way for the remaining farmers to produce high yield crops in the shortest amount of time over and over again. Ironically, with all the concern about GMOs, we're finding people are living longer. Of course there will be those who will support and those who will not. As our population expands, how will we survive without farming? We won't!

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Nov 26 at 2015 2:31 PM

2015-11-26T14:31:05-05:00

I want labeling, that is a standard.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 26 at 2015 2:34 PM

2015-11-26T14:34:26-05:00

I disagree.

Response by MSG Garth Vinson made Sep 28 at 2016 10:28 AM

2016-09-28T10:28:36-04:00

Great movie on Netflix called "Consumed" that addresses the issue of GMO crops. We are now seeing more health issues from Round-up ready crops being one of the culprits.