Enforced labeling on genetically engineered foods could reduce consumer purchases

By: Trademagazin editor Date: 2022. 08. 24. 22:17

Mandatory labels alerting customers that products containing ingredients from genetically engineered plants may hurt sales – at least in the short term – according to a new study from Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences in the US.

The report sheds light on the potential repercussions of the newly introduced National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard, which mandates all US-based producers to disclose these ingredients, enacted last January. The study analyzed sales trend data from Vermont after a law there went into effect requiring labels on genetically engineered foods – the only mandatory statewide genetically engineered labeling policy that has ever been implemented in the US. Linlin Fan, assistant professor of agricultural economics at Penn State, remarks how the findings offer insights about how a new law mandating labels on genetically engineered foods nationwide in the US will affect sales trends.

Foods containing genetically engineered plants have been available since the 1990s.

“We know that genetically engineered products are safe, but many are concerned that mandatory labeling would lead to people rejecting these products and increased problems with food insecurity,” she explains. “While we did see a small decrease in sales, it wasn’t a large effect, and we also found that attitudes about genetically engineered products improved over time.”

Benjamin Ferrer / Fodd Ingredients First