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Friday, 04 September 2009 07:02 |
The New York Times
Letter to the editor - by Sharon Bomer Lauritsen
September 3, 2009
www.nytimes.com
To the Editor:
Re “Biotech-Free, Mostly” (news article, Aug. 29):
Plants derived from agricultural biotechnology undergo stringent reviews by three federal agencies — the Food and Drug Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Agriculture — and all commercialized agricultural biotechnology products are safe.
Second, the F.D.A. does require labeling of products derived from agricultural biotechnology if the food differs from its conventionally grown counterpart in nutrition or safety, including allergenicity.
Voluntary claims, like the G.M.O.-free label mentioned in your article, indicating no genetically modified organisms, are allowed by the F.D.A., provided such labels are truthful, do not mislead consumers and are verifiable.
Third, agricultural biotechnology provides real benefits to farmers and consumers around the world through increased yield and fewer impacts on the environment.
The effort for voluntary labeling and increased testing is also likely to increase the cost of food, and it will do nothing to help feed the 60 million children in developing countries who go to school hungry every day.
Sharon Bomer Lauritsen
Executive Vice President
Food and Agricultural Biotechnology
Biotechnology Industry Organization
Washington, Aug. 31, 2009
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