No need for labels on GE foods – just more safety tests, says AMA

By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

- Last updated on GMT

GM food labeling not needed - just more safety tests, says AMA

Related tags Consumer protection

The American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates has called for mandatory pre-market safety testing of genetically engineered (GE) foods – but said there is currently no reason to label them.

The AMA House of Delegates weighed in on the debate over labeling of foods that contain ingredients produced through genetic engineering at its annual meeting on Wednesday, issuing a position statement that says there is no scientific justification for special labeling of bioengineered foods.

It added: “Voluntary labeling is without value unless it is accompanied by focused consumer education.”

The organization said it “urges government, industry, consumer advocacy groups, and the scientific and medical communities to educate the public and improve the availability of unbiased information and research activities on bioengineered foods.”

In its statement, the AMA also said it “supports mandatory pre-market systematic safety assessments of bioengineered foods”.

Specifically, it urged the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to remain alert to new data about the health effects of GE foods and to update its policies accordingly.

The AMA’s Dr. Patrice Harris said that the position recognizes that there is currently no evidence that there are material differences or safety concerns in available bioengineered foods.

She added: “Recognizing the public’s interest in the safety of bioengineered foods, the new policy also supports mandatory FDA pre-market systemic safety assessments of these foods as a preventive measure to ensure the health of the public. We also urge the FDA to remain alert to new data on the health consequences of bioengineered foods.”

‘Labeling may confuse consumers’

The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) issued a statement welcoming the AMA’s policy, and pointed out that the position was in line with the FDA’s and other scientific bodies’ position that GE foods are materially the same as non-GE foods.

“Because foods and beverages that contain GE ingredients are no different than those that do not, mandatory labeling of foods containing GE ingredients is unnecessary and may actually confuse consumers,”​ the GMA said.

“Labeling information should be reserved for important food safety and/or nutrition information, such as allergen warnings or front-of-pack nutrition labeling.”

California consumers are set to vote on labeling of genetically modification in foods in November, after a campaign to include the measure on the ballot attracted nearly a million signatures.

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20 comments

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GMO FOOD

Posted by Harry,

Who do they think they are kidding is well said? Why because from all clinical tests on GMO indicates the failure to provide any positive benifit to health.
Therefore GMO types of tests appear to be inappropriate. It may be only a matter of time before this is realised, from analitical information of sufficient data is collected on increasing diseases.

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Corrupt AMA

Posted by Jennifer,

"First, do no harm"? And on what basis does the AMA conclude that subjecting the clearly unwilling public to an unstoppable mass medical experiment (with severe environmental consequences, to boot), constitutes "doing no harm" or voluntary consent?

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FDA, USDA, Congress & AMA completely corrupt with Biotech money

Posted by dave,

Big Agro continues to pollute our food supply with toxic pesticides and GMO foods when there is substantial evidence that such practices do harm to our health and environment. They have the regulatory agencies controlled by their endless money which is in part subsidized by our tax payers, yet they have no accountability or labeling requirements to prove the long term safety of such products. Regulators simply look the other way and make excuses for them. This is a complete outrage and so typical of the corrupting influence of special interest money over politicians and regulators.

Make no mistake, there is NOTHING natural about Genetically modified food, in which toxic substances are inserted into the plants DNA. There's nothing safe about Glyphosates and dioxins, regardless of the lies to the contrary.
Would you really want to feed this poison to your baby if you knew there was a chance it could harm? Yet we are prevented from knowing the truth due to the pseudo science and propaganda upheld by these virtually unregulated Biotech Giants.
The only safe foods are truly natural and organic and time tested.

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