UK organic standards threatened by proposed labeling laws: NewsTarget.com

Organic businesses in the United Kingdom have expressed alarm at government proposals to allow higher quantities of genetically modified (GM) ingredients into organic foods without labeling.

The government has proposed allowing foods labeled "organic" to contain up to 0.9 percent GM ingredients. Currently, the European Union's rules set this as the cutoff point that requires products to be labeled as containing GM ingredients. However, UK rules prohibit applying the "organic" label to foods containing any GM ingredients.

"There is overwhelming evidence that one of the main reasons that consumers buy organic is to avoid eating food containing any GM," said Alex Smith, chair of the Organic Group of the Food and Drink Federation. "If the proposals set out by the government were implemented ... organic businesses [would] face enhanced risks of GM contamination, product recall and loss of their most valuable asset, the consumer trust that underlies their brand value."

The Soil Association, a nonprofit organization promoting organic farming, noted that while the government did not consult any organic businesses before coming up with the new proposed rules, it did meet directly with a number of GM companies.

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UK organic standards threatened by proposed labeling laws

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