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Your Right to Know: Genetic Engineering and National Organic Standards Originally published in the December 1999 issue of the Co-op News. by Elizabeth Ferry, Member and Outreach Coordinator In December and January, consumers will have two significant opportunities to protect their right to know what is in their food. The FDA and the USDA are accepting public comment on (a) the labeling of genetically engineered food and (b) Round II of the proposed National Organic Standards. This is your chance to request that government food policies reflect your right to make informed choices about the food you eat. Labeling of Genetically Engineered Food Genetic engineering is a process that splices genes in life forms that could not cross in nature. For example, Bt corn contains genes from a virus inserted into a corn plant. The Flavr Savr tomato measures its shelf life in months, not days, due to the transfer of genetic material from a flounder. The FDA regulates the safety of new foods entering the market and decides whether additional labeling is required. The FDA has opposed labeling genetically engineered foods, claiming that such foods are “substantially equivalent” to conventional foods. Because of the FDA’s refusal to require labeling, Americans consume genetically engineered products each day without knowing it. People with food allergies have no way of knowing whether they are consuming novel foods with new potential allergens. Individuals with ethical or religious dietary principals are unwittingly consuming foods which contain genes from other species. Action You Can Take Through January 13, 2000, you can help to reshape FDA policy. Write to the FDA to request mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods. See “More Information” below. National Organic Standards, Round II The purpose of a National Organic Standard is to ensure uniformity in the term “certified organic.” Currently, there are many state and private organic certification agencies operating under their individual sets of rules. A national system will introduce consistency to a diverse and variable system. In 1998, the USDA submitted for public comment their first draft of a proposed National Organic Standard. The draft included many controversial items, such as the inclusion of genetically engineered organisms, the use of municipal sludge as organic fertilizer, and the approval of irradiation as acceptable organic practices. More than 275,000 Americans expressed their outrage at such a proposal, stating that it would render meaningless the term “certified organic.” Round II is expected to contain some highly controversial proposals. Anticipated concerns are: Loopholes that allow genetically engineered inputs or ingredients in the “certified organic” label. Prohibitively expensive certification fees forsmall and medium-sized farmers. Intensive confinement of animals and other“factory farm” production practices. Outlawing of organic standards that are more strict than the USDA Organic label. Action You Can Take You can write the USDA with your comments on Round II of the National Organic Standards. Release of the document is expected in December (the exact date has not yet been announced). More Information at the Co-op The Co-op’s Education Department will provide more specific information on these two topics as it becomes available. Watch for handouts in the Education Display area of the Food Stores, Internet web links on the Co-op’s web page, or contact Elizabeth Ferry, Member and Community Outreach Coordinator at (603) 643-2667 ext. 3119.