For Immediate Release:
August 14, 2001
For more information: 202/332-9110
Related Links:
Letter to FDA Seeking Enforcement Against Misbranding of Foods that Manufacturers Claim Do Not Contain Contain Genetically Engineered Ingredients
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CSPI Urges FDA to Halt Misleading Non-genetically Engineered Food-label Claims
(Washington) The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) today asked the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) to take enforcement action against seven food manufacturers whose product labels
deceive consumers with false or misleading claims about the absence of genetically engineered (GE)
ingredients.
CSPIs complaint concerns Polaners All Fruit Spreads, Earths Best Baby Foods, Healthy Times
Oatmeal with Banana Cereal, Vans Organic Waffles, Spectrum Canola Oil, Bearitos Tortilla Chips, and
Erewhon Wheat Flakes. CSPI is not concerned about the quality or safety of the products, but charges
that their labels violate the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and FDAs guidance about labeling
foods for GE content. Some examples include:
- Earths Best Apples and Apricots baby food implies that it is superior to competing, similar products
by stating at least seven different times on the package that it contains NO GMOs (genetically
modified organisms). Although technically accurate, that claim is misleading because no baby food
contains organisms, and no brand of apples and apricot baby foods, not just Earths Best, contains
GE ingredients.
- Erewhon Wheat Flakes implies that it is superior to competing products by stating that it is 100%
Naturaland does not contain Genetically Engineered Ingredients. In fact, no GE wheat is present
in any food.
- Polaners All Fruit Strawberry states that it is NOW GMO FREE, yet this jam-like product made
primarily with strawberries and fruit juices does not, and never did, contain organisms.
Consumers want information about GE ingredients in their foods, but that information
should be presented in an accurate and non-disparaging manner, said Gregory Jaffe, co-director
of CSPIs Biotechnology Project. These labels bear false or misleading statements such as No GMOs that take unfair advantage of consumer concerns and lack of knowledge about GE crops.
The labels imply that the absence of GE ingredients makes the products superior, when that is not
the case. FDA, the American Medical Association, and many other health organizations have
determined that GE crops are as safe to eat as traditionally bred crops. In fact, traditionally bred
crops may be treated with more pesticides, or more dangerous pesticides than their bioengineered
counterparts.
Although CSPI favors labeling of GE ingredients, these seven products show that
manufacturers are taking advantage of consumers with false and misleading label statements, added Jaffe.
CSPI recently conducted a national opinion poll that found that labels stating GEor
non-GE would influence many consumers perceptions and preferences. About 31% of
consumers said that products labeled GE were not as safe as non-GE foods. A similar percentage
said that foods labeled does not contain genetically engineered ingredients were better than
unlabeled foods. Only about 10% said that the GE-labeled product was safer or better. (33% to
42% said that GE and non-GE foods were just as safe or good).
Given many consumers innate skepticism of any new technology, CSPI said that
manufacturers must be careful not to mislead consumers. FDA needs to send a clear message to
manufacturers that label statements need to be both accurate and not imply superiority, added
Jaffe. Anticipating the day when biotechnology is used to provide consumer benefits, CSPIs
letter also urged the FDA to guard against deceptive claims about such benefits. The FDA should nip this growing problem in the bud.
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