Unmasking GMOs: What your labels may not be telling you

In this first episode of our labeling claims series, we dive into the story behind GMO labels in the U.S. What exactly is a GMO, and why has the conversation around it been so confusing? We’ll unpack the history of GMO labeling, the role special interests played in shaping the rules, and why today’s standards still leave consumers guessing. Along the way, we’ll contrast the U.S. approach with Europe’s swift and transparent response. If you’ve ever wondered how much you can really trust what’s on your food label, this episode is the perfect place to start.

References

https://www.britannica.com/story/when-were-the-first-gmos-developed

https://www.fda.gov/food/agricultural-biotechnology/science-and-history-gmos-and-other-food-modification-processes

https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2023/06/16/humans-have-been-genetically-modifying-crops-for-thousands-of-years-here-are-some-examples-of-what-some-popular-foods-used-to-look-like/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1083956/

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-people-oppose-gmos-even-though-science-says-they-are-safe/

https://ific.org/resources/articles/how-gmo-technology-saved-the-papaya/

https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/papain

https://www.npr.org/2022/01/05/1070212871/usda-bioengineered-food-label-gmo

https://www.nongmoproject.org/gmo-faq/

https://food.ec.europa.eu/document/download/33a89397-6e41-4551-9ca1-03f2c9e98631_en?filename=gmo-traceability-gm-final_report_en.pdf

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/memo_04_16

https://www.foodchainid.com/resources/the-european-union-on-gmos-achieving-compliance-for-your-product/

https://www.vermontpublic.org/vpr-news/2016-07-15/congress-passes-a-gmo-labeling-bill-that-nullifies-vermonts-law

Chapters

• 0:00 Intro and the story
• 1:55 Background on GMOs and what we will and won’t cover in episode
• 3:25 History of GMOs in science from domestication to gene splicing and what is a GMO really?
• 6:39 Where does the fear come from and could GMO’s be beneficial?
• 10:47 My personal ingredient choices, approved foods and labeling of GMOs and why humans are genetically modified
• 14:25 GMO Standards and 3rd party certifications and EU labeling and GMO approvals
• 18:28 US labeling questions, misinformation, and how we got to where we are today and what are the exemptions from the labeling regulations?
• 24:05 Does Non-GMO mean clean, safe, or natural? Self certification and the value of 3rd party certification and lawsuits that came from them
• 29:03 Intro to “Natural” what does natural mean in nature?
• 30:34 Can you identify GMOs in products by labels in the US?
• 32:54 What can you do to bring more clarity to labels?