The Labelling of Genetically Modified Food

In April 2004, new regulations for the labelling of genetically modified foods came into effect. When compared to the old regulations, which were introduced in 1997 through the EU novel food regulation, these newer ones focus themselves on a different field.

According to the old regulations, genetically modified food required labelling only if GM content could be detected in the final product. In contrast to this, the new regulations are based on a different principle. According to these, all food products that make direct use of GMOs, no matter at which point in the production, have to be labelled. Also, it does not make any difference in this principle whether the genetically modified content is detectable in the end product or not. 

Despite these newly introduced regulations and the obligation of labelling products, consumers nonetheless rarely find labels indicating the use of genetic engineering. The reason for this is that labels, in general, are interpreted as something negative or as warning. What many consumer do not understand is the fact that labels aren't used to frighten them but to simply present information about the application of genetic engineering. 

Due to this wrong assumption, producers don't want to risk losses in sales and damage to their reason. In order to avoid this, they choose to produce products without GMO labels and often simply replace genetically modified substances with conventional ones. Some of them even make sure that the GM content does not exceed the 0.9 % treshold by which they forgo the GM label. Particularly shocking is the fact that even produtcs such as milk, egg, meat and other animal products (logically from animals fed GM plants) can contain those substances without informing consumers about it.