Frankenfood? Demand Labeling of Gene-Altered Food!

by: Consumers Union

recipient: U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Goats that produce spider silk in their milk. Pigs with mouse DNA to improve their digestion. These animals aren't freaks of nature – they're created by man through genetic engineering. The jury is still out on the safety of these animals for human consumption, as the appropriate studies have yet to be conducted. And the ethics of such changes have not even been considered. But the Food and Drug Administration wants to let the meat and milk from these animals to be sold to you without your knowledge! Sign our petition to the FDA demanding the agency label genetically engineered food. We should know what we're buying and eating – and have the right to say "no" to gene-altered food.

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For example, goats have been engineered with spider genes to produce spider silk in their milk. And pigs have been engineered with mouse and bacterial DNA to improve the way they metabolize their feed. These animals are obviously different than their counterparts that have not had their genes altered. Not only should the milk and meat from these animals be studied to determine if they are safe, they should be labeled so we know exactly what we are buying.



FDA requires the label on a soup can indicate the ham, chicken and different vegetables it contains. Food must be labeled if it is frozen, pasteurized or comes from concentrate. Likewise, even if it is safe, meat or milk from genetically engineered animals also should have to carry a label. These are facts that I want to know. I urge you to revise your Draft Guidance for Industry on Regulation of Genetically Engineered Animals to require labeling of food products from all genetically engineered animals. I am deeply concerned that the Food and Drug Administration has issued Draft Guidance that will allow meat and milk from genetically engineered animals into the food supply without any way for me to know whether I'm buying or eating such food. Genetically engineered animals can pose health risks, which is why the FDA is proposing to conduct a full safety assessment for milk and meat from these animals. If these foods need to be assessed for their safety, why would the FDA allow them to be sold without labels identifying them as such?For example, goats have been engineered with spider genes to produce spider silk in their milk. And pigs have been engineered with mouse and bacterial DNA to improve the way they metabolize their feed. These animals are obviously different than their counterparts that have not had their genes altered. Not only should the milk and meat from these animals be studied to determine if they are safe, they should be labeled so we know exactly what we are buying.FDA requires the label on a soup can indicate the ham, chicken and different vegetables it contains. Food must be labeled if it is frozen, pasteurized or comes from concentrate. Likewise, even if it is safe, meat or milk from genetically engineered animals also should have to carry a label. These are facts that I want to know. I urge you to revise your Draft Guidance for Industry on Regulation of Genetically Engineered Animals to require labeling of food products from all genetically engineered animals.