Did You Notice The USDA's New Bioengineered Labeling On Your Food?
In January 2022, the non-GMO labeling on food changed to bioengineered labeling due to a new rule implemented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) published the final rule on December 21, 2018, which established the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard (NBFDS). The NBFDS requires food manufacturers, importers, and certain retailers to disclose information about bioengineered (BE) food and BE food ingredients.
The new labeling requirements are intended to provide consumers with more information about the foods they purchase and consume. Under the NBFDS, BE foods are defined as those that contain genetic material that has been modified through in vitro recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) techniques, and for which the modification could not otherwise be obtained through conventional breeding or found in nature.
The new labeling requirements went into effect on January 1, 2022, for large food manufacturers. Small food manufacturers have until January 1, 2023, to comply with the new rules. The BE label must be placed on the packaging of any food product that contains BE ingredients at a level of 5% or more of the total weight of the product.
It is important to note that the NBFDS does not require products that are derived from animals that have eaten BE feed to be labeled as BE. Additionally, products certified organic under the USDA's organic regulations are not required to bear a BE disclosure.
In conclusion, the non-GMO labeling on food changed to bioengineered labeling in January 2022 due to the implementation of the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard by the USDA.
Top 3 Authoritative Reference Publications:
1. USDA Agricultural Marketing Service: https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/be
2. Federal Register: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/12/21/2018-27283/national-bioengineered-food-disclosure-standard
3. Food Safety Magazine: https://www.foodsafetymagazine.com/news/usda-announces-new-bioengineered-food-labeling-standard/
Organic Web Results:
GMO is out, 'bioengineered' is in, as new U.S. food labeling rules take effectA new national standard is meant to give consumers clarity about how their food was produced, but critics say the rules will introduce more ...www.npr.org
New GMO Labeling Rules Spark Debate“GMOs are now gone and the label for genetically modified foods is now 'bioengineered,' whatever that means. It sounds much less threatening.foodinstitute.com
The USDA's new labeling for genetically modified foods goes into ...The new rule requires food manufacturers, importers and retailers to disclose information whether foods are bioengineered or use bioengineered ...www.washingtonpost.com
USDA Genetic Engineered Food Label Misleads Consumers, Took ...Consumer, food, and environmental advocates say that the new label is misleading, insufficiently transparent, discriminatory, rife with ...beyondpesticides.org
BE Frequently Asked Questions - GeneralBioengineered foods or foods that contain bioengineered food ingredients must be labeled with the bioengineered food disclosure. The Standard defines ...www.ams.usda.gov
