Genetically engineering food raises many health concerns and groups, such as the American Association for Health Freedom, are urging the FDA and government agencies to enforce mandatory labeling on any food or product that is modified or contains modified components.

            The AAHF supports an act introduced by Rep. Dennis Kucinich in the 106^th congress, the Genetically Engineered Food Right to Know Act (HR3377.)  Kucinich believes consumers have the right to know whether the food they are eating has been genetically modified.  This act would require a label on all foods that have been genetically engineered or that contain GE ingredients.

            HR 3377 states, “United States Government notice: This product contains genetically-engineered material, or was processed with genetically-engineered material.”

            The business that is responsible for the food at each stage of production-seed company, farmer, manufacturer, retailer-would be required to label it.

            The AAHF is pushing a mandatory labeling of GE foods due to the serious health concerns that have surfaced-transfer of allergens from one food to another; cause of new diseases, weaknesses, toxins or allergens; increased human resistance to certain antibiotics; potential loss of a food’s nutritional value; lack of safety evaluation of consuming GE foods; further contamination of the food and water supplies; creation of new insect strains that are resistant to pesticides; and harm to wildlife, amongst others.

            Europe, Japan and Canada have already begun labeling and banning GE foods.  And, both the European Union and Japan have begun rejecting American gene-altered crops.

Source: American Association for Health Freedim, www.apma.net, 2001