GMOs and the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard. Does It Apply to You?
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) established a new national mandatory standard for disclosing foods that may be bioengineered or have bioengineered ingredients. The change has taken several years in the making—passed in 2016, implemented in 2021, and finally mandated in 2022.
What is the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard?
As of January 2022, all food manufacturers, retailers, and importers who package and label food must comply with the USDA's National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard (NBFDS). This mandate attempts to give consumers more information about what they eat and to standardize labels across the country.
To do this, manufacturers, whether big or small, must use the USDA-approved logos for bioengineered food. This, according to the USDA, will increase the transparency of the nation's food system and establish guidelines for the regulated entities. Further, the records will inform the regulated entities whether they must comply with the bioengineered food disclosure standard.
What Does the NBFDS Entail in Terms of Food Labeling?
Instead of using the more popular term "GMOs," food manufacturers should now use "bioengineered" or "derived from bioengineering" as per the new federal standard. Former Agricultural Secretary, Sonny Perdue, announced the regulation in 2018. As of January 2022, all food manufacturers, retailers, and importers who package and label food must comply with the USDA's National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard.
Food manufacturers with products that qualify as bioengineered can comply by using either of the two logos approved by the USDA. They can also include a QR code that leads to more information about their food item.
Are Bioengineered Foods the Same as "GMOs"?
Genetically modified and genetically engineered foods or crops are often used interchangeably. Genetic modification can refer to several methods such as selection, hybridization, and induced mutation. It can also cover some aspects of traditional breeding if it causes alterations in the genetic composition of the organism.
Genetic engineered, on the other hand, is only a type of genetic modification that entails a targeted change in the genome to achieve a specific characteristic using biotechnology. In essence, all "bioengineered" organisms are GMOs, but not the other way around (Edmisten, NC State University).
The term "bioengineered" is more specific than GMOs and is thus, preferred by scientists. GMOs are a little more challenging to define as several techniques can alter the genes of a crop. For instance, breeding for productivity, hardiness, shape, size, and flavor, though not done in vitro, can still change the genes of a food crop. Several techniques in modern agriculture can fall under the genetically modified label if you have a deep understanding of biotechnology and food science.
However, some people only consider foods with added or silenced genes for increased yield, improved weed and pest resistance, or avoiding some unwanted characteristics when they talk about GMOs. To prevent several GMO debates and discuss bioengineering without getting mixed up with the other processes that influence the genomes of crops and practices in the agriculture sector, the NBFDS was implemented (Hudson Alpha Org, 2019).
Are Non-Bioengineered Products the same as "Non-GMO"?
Some internet sources might use these two terms interchangeably, but there is a difference between these two concepts. GMOs are organisms—plants, animals, or microorganisms—that have their genetic material altered in a way that does not occur naturally, either by mating or natural recombination (Zhang et al., 2016). Bioengineered products, on the other hand, use biotechnology to produce a desirable characteristic in organisms. For instance, golden rice has been bioengineered to produce healthy amounts of vitamin A precursor (Arber, 2011).
The term "Non-GMO" became popular when consumers and popular media used it to describe foods created through genetic engineering—specifically copying the genetic information from one organism and inserting that into another organism (US FDA). However, what the popular culture refers to as Non-GMO is actually non-bioengineered. In 2010, the term became even more commonplace when the Non-GMO Project first used "the butterfly" to label products that pass their Non-GMO Project Standard.
Simply speaking, non-bioengineered products may not have their genes altered via biotechnology, but that doesn't mean their genes are not modified in one way or another. Therefore, even without the NBFDS logos, food products can't be labeled as non-GMO.
Other Food Labels
Aside from the NBFDS, there are other food labels that can provide more information about food products. For instance, there are "Vegan," "Non-GMO," "Gluten-free," and many others that can help consumers look for the products they need or prefer.
How Can Companies Comply with the NBFDS?
Food companies can choose between the two logos, "Bioengineered" or "Derived from Bioengineering," depending on which category their products fall under. To provide more information about their products, they have the option to put on-package text, an on-package symbol, or a digital disclosure via a QR code on their labels.
Digital disclosure is the least costly and time-consuming among the options. It allows for labeling updates and flexibility should there be any product changes or new transparency regulations.
Ensure You're NBFDS Compliant
Make sure all hands are on deck in terms of your compliance with this new standard. Develop a strategy that starts with a proper evaluation of whether your product falls under the bioengineered food status. A reputable partner in food safety, such as Eurofins Genescan in New Orleans, LA, can help you with that critical analysis.
