Dive Brief:
- If the Grocery Manufacturers' Association, which represents over 300 food companies, has its way, there could be a single federal standard for labeling GMO food items.
- The organization announced Monday a new strategy that will see it petition the U.S. Food and Drug Administration while also pushing Congress to alter oversight and labeling of new GMO foods, and if successful, it could put a halt to state efforts to require GMO labeling and set a new standard allowing "natural" labeling on such items.
- No details have surfaced on which lawmakers are working with the GMA, but another component of the proposed law would require biotech crop developers to let the FDA know before a new GMO crop enters the marketplace.
Dive Insight:
The food industry has spent at least $70 million fighting state ballot measures requiring GMO foods to be labeled as such, and that's not counting lawsuits over "natural" labeling. It's understandable that the food industry would want a consistent labeling standard if they have to label GMO foods, but if the new standard allows such foods to carry "natural" labeling, isn't that tantamount to being handed a stack of "Get Out of Jail Free" cards for false advertising?