(Washington, August 23) The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST), The Georgetown Center for Food and Nutrition Policy and The International Food Information Council (IFIC) agree with Consumer Reports' statement that, "There is no evidence that genetically engineered [biotech] foods on the market are not safe to eat."
This is supported by other leading medical and nutrition experts who advocate the benefits of agricultural biotechnology in light of a September 1999 Consumer Reports article reaffirming the safety of biotech foods. While the article refers to one question from a survey commissioned by IFIC, it left out other important consumer findings from the survey relevant to labeling and other issues raised in the article.
The February 1999 survey, by the Wirthlin Group and commissioned by IFIC, indicated that consumers remain strongly in favor of the potential benefits that can be garnered through biotechnology. While many consumers may not be biotechnology experts, they remain optimistic about its possibilities and three out of four consumers expect to derive benefits for their families from biotechnology in the next five years.
Nearly a decade of consumer research by IFIC indicates that consumers want to learn more about biotechnology and suggests that providing information from credible sources, such brochures sponsored by government agencies, academic institutions and health professional organizations, and 800 numbers, is more effective than food labels.
By combining modern scientific techniques with age-old agricultural processes, biotechnology is helping farmers produce higher quality crops that require fewer inputs for their growth while preserving natural resources, such as land and water. Crops enhanced through biotechnology have become commonplace in the US years after health professional organizations such as The American Dietetic Association and American Medical Association endorsed their safety and promise of future benefits.
Daniel Johnson, MD, World Medical Association president and former president of the American Medical Association, stated "Almost ten years ago, the AMA Council on Scientific Affairs took a hard look at biotechnology applied to food, and the Council hasn't modified the very positive recommendations it made at that time. Those recommendations were very supportive of continuing development of agricultural biotechnology, but were also positive in admonishing physicians like myself and others to go out and educate people about the positive benefits."
Edith Hogan, RD, spokesperson for The American Dietetic Association stated: "We know it is possible for nutritional value and quality to be enhanced. We know a number of things now, but there may be even greater benefits in the future."
Three federal agencies, the Food and Drug Administration, the US Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency, have been studying and monitoring biotechnology crops for over a decade. The FDA regulates foods produced using biotechnology just as stringently as other foods and has the power to remove any food it deems unsafe from the market. According to Hogan, "We can be sure that biotech foods are safe, and I think that's very important. It's important to me--as a mother and as a grandmother--as well as a dietitian, to feel secure about our food supply."
Although in the future many biotech foods may offer benefits such as enhanced nutrition that may be indicated on a food label, virtually all of today's agricultural biotech crops produce food ingredients that are essentially the same as other ingredients. Consumers may benefit indirectly from reduced pesticide use or stable prices, but not in a recognizable way that would trigger a required statement on a food label. The IFIC survey indicated nearly four out of five Americans support the current FDA policy on labeling foods produced using biotechnology. The FDA policy requires special labeling only when the food has been significantly changed or when a potential safety concern such as an unexpected food allergen has been introduced. However, no foods that would mandate such labeling are currently in the marketplace.
While many of the current benefits may be taken for granted, Dr. Johnson commented on the need for biotechnology from his perspective as head of the World Medical Association. "I am convinced that what we've been able to do for our farmers, by giving them the tools to increase the yield of their products and at the same time, reducing use of chemicals such as herbicides and pesticides is very positive for the people who sit around the dinner table at night. Beyond that, increasing the amount of soybean production, increasing the amount of corn production, means that we have a better opportunity to take care of the people around the world where food shortages still exist."
Note to Reporters: A complete and unabridged version of IFIC's consumer survey can be obtained at http://ificinfo.health.org/press/quest.htm.
The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology is the science source for
food, agricultural, and environmental issues. CAST is a nonprofit organization
composed of 38 scientific societies and many individual, student, company,
nonprofit, and associate society members.
www.cast-science.org
The Georgetown Center for Food and Nutrition Policy analyzes and reports on complex issues in food and nutrition policy. The Center provides instruction and mentoring in food and nutrition policy within the graduate program of the Georgetown Public Policy Institute, and serves as an academic and intellectual resource in these subject areas within the Georgetown University community. In the larger community, the Center provides a nexus wherein government, industry, academia and consumer groups can openly discuss issues in food and nutrition policy.
The International Food Information Council (IFIC) is a nonprofit organization
whose mission is to communicate science-based information on food safety and
nutrition. IFIC is supported primarily by the broad-based food, beverage and
agricultural industries.
http://ificinfo.health.org.