ANTI-BIOTECH campaigners in the United States have drawn attention to moves by the Trump administration to ditch safeguards on genetically modified food.

Pressure group 'Moms Across America' – which has also led the consumer backlash against the herbicide glyphosate – claims to have received documentation from a supporter showing that US Department of Agriculture inspectors have been instructed to no longer regulate all GMOs in foods, including meat and egg products.

The leaked order allegedly reads: “Inspection program personnel at the USDA are not to verify whether establishments meet labelling requirements related to the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standards.”

The order also states that, from January 1, 2022, the Agricultural Marketing Service will enforce compliance with NBFDS – leading Moms Across America to warn that, between now and then, the US food supply will no longer be regulated for genetically modified foods in any way.

US consumer groups have worked for years to get labelling onto genetically modified foods, against staunch political resistance: "The Obama administration passed a scant whiff of a law where companies would only have to identify genetically modified foods on their website or with a QR code or symbol on their packaging," recalled MAA's Zen Honeycutt. "The Trump administration was supposed to enforce the GMO labelling law. Instead, they have simply eliminated it (with no vote from Congress) and now, food manufacturers no longer have to disclose anything about GMOs, anywhere.

“92% of Americans the Center for Food Safety polled wanted GMO labelling," she said. "Our government passed a law to require food manufacturers to identify GMO ingredients on their websites or packages. This act, of quietly directing USDA inspectors to no longer determine if food is genetically modified is not the behavior of a leader of the free world, of a democracy. This is what a corporatocracy looks like. If our elected officials continue to allow the misrepresentation of the American people, they are a part of destroying democracy in America.”

As is the style in the USA, anti-GM campaigners do not hold back in their denunciation of the technology: "Animals that ate GMOs in a Russian study were shown to be sterile by the third generation," declared Ms Honeycutt. "GMO corn has been proven to have higher levels of toxins. The pesticides and herbicides, such as glyphosate, used in GMO farming have been found to increase the risk of Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma up to 50%, increase growth of breast cancer, cause liver disease and kidney damage, cause female and male reproductive issues, and shorten gestation of human pregnancies, which can mean miscarriages and death.

"Health care costs related to these issues are crippling the US health care budget. Clearly, deregulating GMOs during a pandemic, or anytime, is not in the best interest of American public health and the future of our country. Purchasing organic and non-GMO food is still an option for the people who can afford it. The problem is many cannot afford it, and this administration has just widened the gap of social inequity."

---

The Scottish Farmer remains dedicated to bringing you all the latest news and views from across our industry, plus up-to-date information on the impacts of Covid-19.

If you are unable to get out to pick up your weekly read, please support us by subscribing to our print edition, delivered direct to your door, from as little at £35 - or consider a digital subscription from just £2 for 2 months.

To arrange either follow this link: www.thescottishfarmer.co.uk/subscribe

Thanks – and stay safe