GMO claims, market access debated at United Fresh Washington Conference
GMO claims, market access debated at United Fresh Washington Conference
WASHINGTON — GMO-free claims on packages of stone fruit may cause confusion in the marketplace but if companies want to use that marketing technique they can, Cathleen Enright, executive vice president of Biotechnology Industry Association, told attendees in a standing-room only session Sept. 9 at the United Fresh Produce Association's Washington Conference, here.
Enright joined Randal Giroux, vice president of food safety, quality and regulatory affairs at Cargill Inc., to discuss GMO issues at the popular session, "The GMO Debate and Impact on Fruits and Vegetables."
Apples that contain a non-browning trait and potatoes engineered to result in lower acrylamide levels are two products coming to market, while a high-antioxidant purple tomato is years away, Enright said.
Despite the benefits of genetic engineering and its long history of safety, "food is easy pickings for the opposition," Enright told the group. Hundreds of advocacy groups have hooked their agenda on opposing GMOs by targeting processed foods and "Big Ag."
Giroux said sourcing GM ingredients means companies must be aware of consumer preferences that lead all the way to international markets.
"We need to find a balance between market innovation and market access," he said.
Companies moving towards GMOs should start a dialogue early throughout the supply chain, "so at the end of the day there are no surprises," he advised.
When the panel was asked the appropriate response to a stone fruit packer who opted to use the GMO-free claim, Enright said as an advocate for biotechnology she would not oppose companies that choose to market their products as GMO-free. But it should not be tied to food safety, she stressed.
When asked whether it caused confusion in the marketplace since other stone fruits are not genetically modified, she confirmed that it does, and this is one reason why the U.S. Department of Agriculture is working on a guidance for GMO claims.
Another question touched on fear among consumers about GMOs. Enright dismissed safety concerns, saying scores of livestock have consumed GMO feed for years.
"There haven't been as much as a sniffle associated with GM foods," she said.
But the final decision lies with the company. "My advice is to find out what your customers want," Enright said.
