FAQ: Bioengineered Food Testing and the Non-GMO Project
Eurofins Scientific is one of the leading laboratories for bioengineered ingredient testing globally. While regulations and disclosure requirements frequently change, we serve as a steady resource to help develop testing programs individualized to your product and needs.
This FAQ answers the most common questions we receive regarding BE foods and regulations, the non-GMO project, and testing options at Eurofins.
More details are available in this webinar!
What is bioengineered food?
A bioengineered food is one that contains genetic material modified by in vitro recombinant DNA techniques. In other words, bioengineered foods have DNA that humans have modified in a lab. Specifically, the modification is one that cannot occur via traditional breeding techniques or in nature. The product or ingredient must contain the modified material, so highly refined ingredients with no modified material are exempt, even if originated from a bioengineered crop.
What is the non-GMO project?
The Non-GMO Project is a nonprofit organization dedicated to labeling foods as GMO-free. They offer non-GMO certification for products whose ingredients lack genetically modified materials. This is a voluntary program with rigorous standards for verification.
What are the main differences between bioengineered food regulations and the Non-GMO Project verification?
The core difference between bioengineered food regulations and the Non-GMO Project verification is that one meets regulatory requirements and one is a marketing tool. There is overlap in the types of products tested with each, however not everything included in the Non-GMO verification falls under the bioengineered food regulation. Where the Non-GMO verification is voluntary, the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard requires all food products with bioengineered material to include a disclosure.
What foods and ingredients need to be tested for bioengineered material to meet federal requirements?
Food labeled for retail sale, specifically products in which any ingredient contains more than 5% bioengineered substance, is required to have disclosures about bioengineered materials. The current list of BE foods and ingredients derived from such foods includes alfalfa, apples, canola, corn, cotton, eggplant, papaya, pineapple, potato, salmon, soybean, squash, and sugarbeet. Ingredients from these foods should be tested for bioengineered material due to the increased risk of unintentional contamination. This tool from the FDA website can help determine if your ingredients require bioengineered material disclosures.
How do I show that ingredients do not contain bioengineered material?
You can demonstrate that your ingredients do not contain bioengineered material with records showing they are not from a bioengineered source, were processed with a validated process that removes bioengineered material, or provide testing records showing bioengineered genetic material was removed.
What is not considered bioengineered food?
Incidental additives in a low concentration (those not included on the ingredients list) and ingredients and products with no detectable bioengineered material are not bioengineered foods.
Additionally, there are several exemptions to the regulation, including food ingredients derived from an animal fed bioengineered foods, products whose first ingredient is meat, poultry, or eggs (or the first ingredient is water or broth and the second ingredient is meat, poultry, or eggs), pet and animal foods, and distilled spirits and many other alcoholic products.
Exceptions include food served in a restaurant, small food manufacturers (< $2.5 million annually), and USDP National Organic Program (NOP) certified foods.
What is the threshold allowance and why does it exist?
The threshold of allowance allows exemptions for unintentional or unavoidable bioengineered material in ingredients under 5%. The threshold exists so bioengineered and non-bioengineered crops can be grown in the same vicinity, recognizing that cross-crop contamination is often unavoidable during harvesting and processing.
How do you test to confirm a product is free from bioengineered material and considered non-GMO?
Eurofins GeneScan has been a global leader in bioengineered/GMO testing since 1996. The primarily method uses polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing to search for single or multi-genetic modifications. PCR amplifies small sections of DNA so scientists can detect and measure specific modifications. We can provide qualitative results, indicating if modified DNA is present. We can also provide quantitative results stating how much modified DNA is present.
What are important considerations when choosing a testing lab?
A testing lab is your partner in navigating regulations and should provide technical expertise and simplified testing solutions. A reliable lab will have the knowledge, equipment, and history needed to successfully test products and ingredients for bioengineered materials. Testing labs should also provide advice for label accuracy and compliance.
How often should I test ingredients and finished products?
It is a good idea to test early and often. Testing ingredients is important when choosing a supplier to make sure any claims of non-bioengineered ingredients are true before manufacturing starts. Your routine testing timeline depends on the reliability of your supplier and the risk you are willing to take. Testing less frequently increases the risk of your products being involved in a “gotcha” campaign. The experts at Eurofins GeneScan are happy to help you develop a testing program that matches your needs!
The experts are happy to help craft the right testing plan for your products! Contact us today to learn more.
