Comments on: Whole Foods Partners with Non-GMO Project To Label Non-GM Foods http://gmo-journal.com/index.php/2009/08/28/whole-foods-partners-with-non-gmo-project-to-label-non-gm-foods/ If you are what you eat, then aren't you a genetically modified organism? Mon, 06 Sep 2010 08:50:46 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.1 hourly 1 By: Deniza http://gmo-journal.com/index.php/2009/08/28/whole-foods-partners-with-non-gmo-project-to-label-non-gm-foods/comment-page-1/#comment-24 Deniza Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:09:22 +0000 http://gmo-journal.com/?p=241#comment-24 Good point. I think the industry will most certainly respond. As an example, back in the early 90's, when certain dairy farmers wanted to label their milk as being free of the bovine growth hormone (rBGH), Monsanto, one of the producers of GM products, engaged in litigation and lobbying tactics to prevent dairy farmers and/or local governments from permitting such labeling. Many people also believe that the FDA's pro-rBGH stance was a result, in large measure, of Michael R. Taylor, the then FDA's deputy commissioner for policy who was instrumental in drafting the FDA's rBGH labeling guidelines. Taylor's professional career is inextricably linked with Monsanto (he is back again at the FDA, appointed by the Obama administration, as the Advisor to FDA Commissioner on food safety). The FDA guidelines, announced in February 1994, forced dairy farmers who produced BGH-free milk and wanted to label their products a such, to state that there is no difference between rBGH and the naturally occurring hormone on labels for non-rBGH products. I would expect a similar industry reaction to non-gmo labels. Good point. I think the industry will most certainly respond. As an example, back in the early 90’s, when certain dairy farmers wanted to label their milk as being free of the bovine growth hormone (rBGH), Monsanto, one of the producers of GM products, engaged in litigation and lobbying tactics to prevent dairy farmers and/or local governments from permitting such labeling. Many people also believe that the FDA’s pro-rBGH stance was a result, in large measure, of Michael R. Taylor, the then FDA’s deputy commissioner for policy who was instrumental in drafting the FDA’s rBGH labeling guidelines. Taylor’s professional career is inextricably linked with Monsanto (he is back again at the FDA, appointed by the Obama administration, as the Advisor to FDA Commissioner on food safety).

The FDA guidelines, announced in February 1994, forced dairy farmers who produced BGH-free milk and wanted to label their products a such, to state that there is no difference between rBGH and the naturally occurring hormone on labels for non-rBGH products.

I would expect a similar industry reaction to non-gmo labels.

]]> By: Boris Gitlin http://gmo-journal.com/index.php/2009/08/28/whole-foods-partners-with-non-gmo-project-to-label-non-gm-foods/comment-page-1/#comment-22 Boris Gitlin Sun, 30 Aug 2009 17:05:09 +0000 http://gmo-journal.com/?p=241#comment-22 Here is a great article in NYT on the same topic. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/29/business/29gmo.html I like the last quote there: <blockquote>Supporters of the biotech industry questioned whether the new labeling campaign would pass muster with the F.D.A. It's very important that the labels on those products are used for marketing and branding purposes and not to make statements about food safety, said Karen Batra, a director of communications of the Biotechnology Industry Organization, a lobbying group.</blockquote> A great idea and about time, but it remains to be seen if this labeling campaign will go unchallenged by the industry. Here is a great article in NYT on the same topic.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/29/business/29gmo.html

I like the last quote there:

Supporters of the biotech industry questioned whether the new labeling campaign would pass muster with the F.D.A. It’s very important that the labels on those products are used for marketing and branding purposes and not to make statements about food safety, said Karen Batra, a director of communications of the Biotechnology Industry Organization, a lobbying group.

A great idea and about time, but it remains to be seen if this labeling campaign will go unchallenged by the industry.

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