Sponsored By

SupplySide West Podcast 6: Controversies With the New GMO Labeling LawSupplySide West Podcast 6: Controversies With the New GMO Labeling Law

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are a controversial topic, and a recent federal law reignited the issue as well as surfaced heated debates around states' rights, the digital divide between rich and poor, and consumer understanding of the organic label. Products sold in the United States that contain GMOs will be required to disclose those ingredients to consumers per the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard act, which was signed into law by President Barack Obama on July 29, 2016. This law gives USDA two years to create a set of rules that brands must follow to disclose GMO content. 

Jon Benninger

August 3, 2016

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are a controversial topic, and a recent federal law reignited the issue as well as surfaced heated debates around states’ rights, the digital divide between rich and poor, and consumer understanding of the organic label.

Products sold in the United States that contain GMOs will be required to disclose those ingredients to consumers per the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard act, which was signed into law by President Barack Obama on July 29, 2016. This law gives USDA two years to create a set of rules that brands must follow to disclose GMO content.

In this episode, Loren Israelsen, president, United Natural Products Alliance (UNPA), and Jon Benninger, vice president, Health & Nutrition Network, Informa Exhibitions, discuss:

  • The new law’s overruling of Vermont’s GMO labelling law, how that affects food industry and why that upsets some consumers.

  • The confusion on which products will be required to carry the GMO labeling and which enforcement agency will cover different product types.

  • The debate over if the new standard—which allows a company to disclose GMOs with a QR Code, a link or a phone number—is biased toward consumers who have access to smart technology.

Israelsen will be offering more insight on GMO labeling and consumer expectations at the panel discussion GMOs: Today’s Challenges, Tomorrow’s Opportunities on Thursday, Oct. 6, at 2 p.m. at SupplySide West 2016. Visit supplysideshow.com for more information and get registered. This session is underwritten by BASF, the official education sponsor of SupplySide West.

Links and Resources:

Got feedback? Email Benninger at [email protected], or tweet to @NatProdINSIDER using the hashtag #INSIDERPodcast.

About the Author(s)

Jon Benninger

Informa

Jon Benninger is vice president and market leader at Informa Markets. He focuses on the strategic direction and growth of the SupplySide portfolio, which includes SupplySide West, SupplySide East, Natural Products Insider and Food & Beverage Insider. He coordinates with leaders of the other Informa health and nutrition events and brands, including Natural Products Expo, Vitafoods, Food ingredients, NEXT and Nutrition Business Journal. Benninger joined the company in 1995 as the founding editor of the company’s first trade magazine for the nutrition industry.

Subscribe and receive the latest insights on the healthy food and beverage industry.
Join 47,000+ members. Yes, it's completely free.

You May Also Like