Example no.2: Article for TrueFood Network

Note: Views are not necessarily my own; the article was created as part of an assignment.

GE Food Labelling Laws Are a Joke:

            Labelling requirements for genetically engineered (GE) food in Australia are inadequate. Consumers aren’t fully informed about which foods are free from GE products, because labelling requirements don’t include all the food that is contaminated with GEs (TrueFood Network).

            The TrueFood Network is campaigning to have the government improve labelling laws. We are dedicated to ensuring that every item containing GE is labelled.

            The aim of the campaign is to increase the labelling requirements on all genetically engineered food: GM products and GMOs. Scientists create both through gene technology. Genetic materials and DNA from plants are spliced together in a laboratory to produce an altered organism (FSANZ). They are unnatural and couldn’t be created in nature.

             In Australia, Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) develops and administers the Food Labelling Standards, which outlines how food will be labelled. FSANZ decided to label GE food in 2001. The statement “Genetically Modified” now appears on the label next to the ingredient that was modified (FSANZ).

            However, this requirement is not enough - there are many foods that are exempt from being labelled genetically modified. If a GE food doesn’t contain altered characteristics, novel DNA or protein, it doesn’t need to be labelled. This is because FSANZ considers them no different from non-GE food. The same goes if there is a less than 1% cross-contamination of a GE food, or if flavouring contains 0.1% of a GE ingredient (FSANZ).

            Another concern is the lack of genetically modified labelling for products from animals that were fed GE grain, such as eggs, meat, dairy and honey. FSANZ believes these items don’t need to be labelled since the grain is considered safe for human consumption. If GE foods aren't labelled, how are consumers meant to make an informed decision?

            In 2011, FSANZ conducted a review on all food labelling. The review board issued the report “Labelling Logic: Review of Food Labelling Law and Logic (2011).” The review concentrated on GE issues including: whether flavours containing novel DNA or protein should be included in labelling requirements, and whether GE foods need to be reviewed for safety after being labelled genetically modified.

            Unfortunately, the review didn’t find any problems with the current GE labelling requirements, so FSANZ announced the existing laws were acceptable. Because there were no changes to the GE food labelling code, consumers are still unaware of all the products containing GE.

            The government states there are no known dangers involved with GE food, and labelling is only for consumer choice. They don’t see the need for long-term health or safety studies because there have been no hazards involved with GE products – that we know of (FSANZ). Despite this, there are still real concerns for the long-term health and environmental impacts of these foods.

            One important reason for this is because the government – in Australia, at least – doesn’t conduct the health and safety studies themselves. Producers of GE crops undertake the studies, then the results are given to FSANZ to review them.

            The main issue is the producers of GE grain, such as Monsanto and Bayer, have a history of producing harmful chemicals and drugs (TrueFood Network). Consumers can’t be fully secure eating their products when these companies are the ones assessing the health and safety of the food.

            The TrueFood Network believes it’s the consumers right to be fully informed about which foods have GE products in, so they can make the decision what they feed their families. Everyone has the right to know what they are putting in their bodies; but since there is no independent safety data on GE food, no one can be 100% certain if they are eating food that is safe (“GMO”).

            The TrueFood Network campaign is asking for your support to have the GE food labelling laws changed. Here’s how you can help: Tell your friends to join the TrueFood Network, e-mail the PM and tell him you don’t want to be left in the dark concerning GE food, and ask food companies to disclose any GE products on their labels.

             Let your voice be heard!

           Works Cited:

Australian Government. Australian and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial          Council. Response to the Recommendations of Labelling Logic: Review of  Food Labelling Law and Policy (2011). 2011. Web. 15 Mar. 2014.

Food Standards Australia and New Zealand. N.p., 2013. Web. 17 Mar. 2014.       <http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/Pages/default.aspx>.

"GMO." Organic Association of Western Australia. Ed. S Warrington. N.p., 2010. Web. 12 Mar. 2014. <http://www.ogawa.org.au/gmo.php>.

"List of Genetically Modified Product Approvals ." Australian Government: Department of Health. N.p., 27 Mar. 2014. Web. 17 Mar. 2014.

TrueFood Network. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Mar. 2014.        <http://www.truefood.org.au/index.php>.