The Department of Agriculture will begin allowing meat, poultry and egg producers to use labels such as “contains no GMO” or “derived from beef fed no GMO feed.” The guidance announced last week takes effect immediately and gives food makers information and examples on how to label products as non-GMO, known as a negative claim, according to Reuters. USDA says the nationwide, voluntary GMO labeling law approved by Congress and signed by the President set rules for labeling products as GMO-free, allowing for the change. Previously, USDA only allowed the use of the phrases “GMO” and “genetically modified organism” on livestock or poultry labeling. The new law gives USDA two years to create and finalize rules implementing the law.
From the National Association of Farm Broadcasting news service.