Will we see labels on biotech foods?

We might see voluntary labels in the near future.

In January 2001 the FDA issued a draft set of Guidelines for Industry for Voluntary Labeling Indicating Whether Foods Have or Have Not Been Developed Using Bioengineering. (This link opens a new, separate window.)

If you follow the link above, the document explains why you'll likely see the terms "derived through biotechnology" or "bioengineered" on foods, and why labels won't use the terms "GM free", "GMO", and "modified."

The guidelines were drafted after the FDA surveyed citizens through focus groups and wrote a Report on Consumer Focus Groups on Biotechnology. (This link opens a new, separate window.)

Whether or not we should label foods is an issue that has more than one dimension. In other parts of this site we discuss the ethical issues surrounding labeling.