GMA Urges FDA to Firmly Declare Biotechnology Safe

December 13, 1999

The Grocery Manufacturers of America says the Food and Drug Administration's national hearings on food biotechnology allow the agency to "more firmly declare" the safety of biotechnology and the soundness of its existing regulatory policies.

FDA has held three hearings to inform consumers about its biotech labeling policy and to hear views on the issue for scientists, farmers, consumer groups and others. GMA testified at the first hearing in Chicago in support of FDA's policy of labeling foods and ingredients derived from biotechnology. FDA requires labeling when there is a significant compositional change in the product, when the food is nutritionally different from its traditional counterpart or when a potential allergen has been introduced.

Lisa Katic, GMA director of scientific and nutritional policy, said the association "urges the FDA to stay on course and continue on its path of remaining a regulatory agency which is guided by science facts not science fiction."

She said food companies are "fully committed" to ensuring consumer confidence in the safety and regulation of food biotechnology. GMA and the Food Marketing Institute have urged FDA Commissioner Jane Henney to consider making mandatory the FDA consultation process for review of foods derived from new plant varieties.

While acknowledging the current voluntary process includes a safety evaluation and a labeling review, GMA and FMI say that "a mandatory consultation process would help ensure continued consumer confidence in the FDA regulatory policy."