What is the grocery industrys position regarding bioengineered foods?
The grocery industry believes that it is the role of the federal government to establish and enforce standards that ensure the safety of our nation’s food supply. National uniformity and consistency are imperative in the development and enforcement of food safety laws governing how food is grown, processed and labeled. All food products that cannot be considered safe by the appropriate government agency must be removed from the distribution system before they reach the retail level. FMI supports FDA’s labeling policy – that appropriate labels should be required if genetic engineering significantly changes the structure or function or nutritional makeup of the food or if it introduces allergens. In 1999, the Boards of Directors of FMI and the Grocery Manufacturers of America adopted a five-point policy on genetically modified foods: • Consumers have a basic right to know the relevant information about the products that they buy, including information about genetically modified foods or
