The White House responded to two petitions for labeling of foods made with genetically modified organisms by deferring to the expertise of the FDA, which has been studying the question for more than two years. “It’s in the process … of considering the issues presented,” said the White House. “Once the agency makes a decision, we will be sure to let you know in a follow-on update message.” The Obama administration created an electronic format for citizen petitions in 2011, and promised of a response if 100,000 people signed a petition.
In its statement, the White House said it was well aware of rising interest among Americans in knowing how their food is produced and if it contains GMOs. By looking for the USDA certified organic seal, “consumers can identify food that was produced without any genetically engineered ingredients.”
The Grocery Manufacturers of America, which opposes mandatory labeling, said, “We have always maintained that federal agencies are the appropriate bodies to oversee issues related to GMO labeling so we agree with the administration’s decision to defer to FDA on these petitions.”
The administration was neutral on HR 1599, the House bill passed earlier this month that would pre-empt state laws for GMO food labeling, keep labeling voluntary on the federal level and put the USDA in charge of certifying food as non-GMO. While the House passed its pre-emption bill, the Senate Appropriations Committee has voted to require labels on a genetically engineered salmon if the FDA clears it for commerce.
Researchers at the University of Vermont said five years of polling data indicated shoppers would not regard the labels as a danger signal, which was something opponents of labeling had feared. In the surveys of Vermont residents, an average 60 percent of respondents opposed GMOs in foods and 89 percent supported labels. Professor Jane Kolodinsky said in a U-Vermont release: “We found that overall the label has no direct impact on opposition. And it increased support for GM in some demographic groups.”
Vermont’s first-in-the-nation GMO food-labeling law is to take effect next July 1.
GMO crops, chiefly corn, soybeans, sugarbeets and cotton, have been grown commercially in the United States for two decades. Most of the processed foods sold in grocery stores contain some GMO ingredients.
The White House statement is available here.
The FDA statement on GMO labeling petitions is available here.