These “all natural” Mission chips are one of several products alleged to contain GMOs in recent lawsuits.
The FDA has spent a significant amount of time ducking the important questions that people really want to know about their food, such as whether or not it contains genetically engineered ingredients.
Mandatory GMO labeling is consistently demanded in national polls by over 90 percent of respondents, but the FDA continues to avoid the issue. It’s gotten so confusing in the United States that companies have routinely gotten away with labeling foods with GMOs as “natural,” leading to several lawsuits including one from San Francisco resident Elizabeth Cox that has thrust the “natural” label (and its deceptive nature) into the spotlight.
As noted in this article from McClatchy DC, Cox bought a bag of supposed “All-Natural” Mission Tortilla Triangles in August 2012, not realizing that they were made from genetically engineered corn. Her purchase “planted the seeds for a class-action lawsuit” according to the article, which then triggered three federal judges to prepare by asking the FDA for an official declaration as to whether foods made with genetically engineered ingredients may be labeled as either “natural,” “all natural,” or “100% natural.”
For consumers, whether or not products contain GMOs has become the million-dollar question that could trigger a purchase or cause them to abandon ship.
But much like the food companies themselves, the question is one that the FDA had been hoping to avoid – until now, that is.
Comment to the FDA: Should GMOs be Labeled Natural?
With public scrutiny higher than ever before, the FDA is turning to the general public to submit its own comments on what should constitute a “natural” label for a food product.
So far, a little over 2,000 comments have been filed online about the natural label and what it should contain. The comments period began on Nov. 12 and will close on Feb. 10.
Because the topic of whether GMOs should be included is at the forefront of the discussion, those who wish to comment should be sure to share their views with the FDA on GMOs.
One commenter, Nadja Hoyer-Booth, submitted the following:
At the bare minimum, a food labelled natural: -Should be non-GMO, -Should not have anything artificial added to it, -If meat, should not contain antibiotics or hormones.
Considering the importance of this issue and the lack of overall transparency in the food industry, many more comments are needed.
To add your comment, simply do the following: visit regulations.gov and type FDA-2014-N-1207 in the search box.
You may also submit comments by mail; include docket number FDA-2014-N-1207 on each page of your written comments and mail to Division of Dockets Management, HFA-305, Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.
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