Regulatory science requirements of labeling of genetically modified food

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of the evolution of food labeling in the USA. It briefly describes the three phases of agricultural development consisting of naturally occurring, cross-bred, and genetically engineered, edited or modified crops, otherwise known as Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO). It uses the Best Available Regulatory Science (BARS) and Metrics for Evaluation of Regulatory Science Claims (MERSC) to evaluate the scientific validity of claims applicable to GMO and the Best Available Public Information (BAPI) to evaluate the pronouncements by public media and others. Subsequently claims on health risk, ecological risk, consumer choice, and corporate greed are evaluated based on BARS/MERSC and BAPI. The paper concludes by suggesting that labeling of food containing GMO should consider the consumer’s choice, such as the food used by those who desire kosher and halal food. Furthermore, the consumer choice is already met by the exclusion of GMO in organic food.

Keywords:

• Food labeling
• best available regulatory science
• organic
• kosher
• halal

Acknowledgements

This study resulted from the assignments of students who took a course on regulatory science at Georgetown University in Washington DC. Several students as represented by Dania Shafei and Linsey Bloom participated in activities that impacted this study. The enthusiasm of these students and their contribution to activities that led to this study are greatly appreciated. We are also grateful to the support of Elise Favia a student at the University of Richmond.

Disclosure statement

This project did not require external funding and authors declared no conflict of interest.