Prop 37 voter guide has confused voters and misrepresented our position, says Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics

By Elaine WATSON

- Last updated on GMT

Prop 37 voter guide has confused voters and misrepresented our position, says Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics

Related tags Genetically modified organisms Nutrition

The official voter information guide on California’s Proposition 37 GMO labeling initiative inaccurately states that the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics “has concluded that biotech foods are safe”.

The statement, which appears in the ‘Argument Against Proposition 37’ section of the guide, was taken from a 2006 position statement from the Academy, which has since expired.

As of now, the Academy doesn’t have a position on the labeling of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) or genetically engineered (GE) foods, but is expecting to release one in 2013, said president Ethan A. Bergman in a statement released at the Academy's annual Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE) this week.

“California's voters are being misled to believe the nation's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals is against Proposition 37, when in fact, the Academy does not have a position on the issue.”

The inaccurate information has “led to confusion and an inaccurate portrayal of in the media and health-care community of the Academy and its state affiliate, the California Dietetic Association​”, said the Academy.

Statement was taken from 2006 expired position

Asked why the Academy had only now brought attention to the issue and not when the voter guide first came out, a spokesman told FoodNavigator-USA: “We only recently became aware of the error.”

He added: “The Academy had a position that was published in 2006 that addressed GMOs. That position is now expired, but the statement was unfortunately taken from that 2006 expired position.”

Asked whether the new position - when it comes out in 2013 - will take a view on Prop 37 and GMO labeling as well as the safety of biotech foods, he said: “The new position is currently under development. It hasn’t been determined yet if it will include the issues raised in prop 37.”

The Academy (formerly the American Dietetic Association) is the world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals.  

Click here​ to read the official Prop 37 voter information guide.

What were the other big stories emerging from FNCE 2012?

Entrance-FNCE

DNA diets? Click here.

Are kids drinking less soda? Click here.

Why can't the industry and consumer advocacy groups meet half-way? Click here.

Processed foods are not the enemy. Click here.

PepsiCo protein launch. Click here.

Related news

Show more

2 comments

Accurate representation of AND v GMO

Posted by Marcus Edge,

Given that the ADA/AND operating budget depends heavily on the support of agribusinesses that have acknowledged their vested interests in defeating Prop 37, as well as in continuing to participate in glyphosate-dependent ag systems, there can be no doubt that the AND supports and will support the use of GMO commodities in the food supply. Whomever at the AND made these comments to this reporter was probably speaking out of school; a better strategy would have been not to comment at all on the so-called "misrepresentation."

Report abuse

Missed the Boat!

Posted by Linda Anderson,

Another case of the Academy missing the boat when their comments on this legislation could have been helpful to the public, not to mention their professional members.

Sad commentary-too little too late!

Report abuse

Follow us

Products

View more

Webinars