What You Need To Know About The GMO Labeling Law

Coming soon, to a store near you….Act 120, or more commonly known as the Genetically Engineered (GE) Food Labeling Rule, officially goes into effect July 1st of this year. The topic created a lot of buzz about two years ago, when the Vermont Legislature passed the bill (H.112) into law in May 2014, allowing a two year period for implementation.

Vermont is the first state to have passed a labeling law for genetically modified organisms (GMOs), although others are considering it. For example, Maine and Connecticut have conditionally passed labeling laws, which would go into effect once a certain number of other states decide to as well.

It’s a complicated and nuanced topic, but City Market supports the policy. City Market has always stood for transparency and providing as much information as possible to shoppers. As you shop at the Co-op over the coming months, you’ll start to see labeling on some products. I’ve written this post to help clarify any questions you might have and to give all the info you need to know to be prepared for this change.

Timeline:

May 2014: Vermont Legislature passed Act 120, signing the GE Food Labeling Rule into law.

July 1, 2016: The GE Food Labeling Law goes into effect. All food items packaged or distributed on or after July 1 must be labeled if the product contains any GMOs.

July 1, 2016 – January 1, 2017: “Grace period”; most products will have a label, but some food items that were packaged before July 1 can still be sold without a label. However, because City Market’s inventory turns over very quickly, most products will be labeled early on. In fact, some producers are already displaying labels, including select items from Hershey’s, General Mills, and Campbell’s.

January 1, 2017: At this point, all foods must contain the proper label, even if packaged or distributed prior to the law’s effect.

What does the label look like? And where will it be?

Exactly how and where the label is placed is up to the manufacturer, but there are some rules to make it easier to find. It will usually be a text statement (although a graphic is allowed as well). The printed words must be in bold type and at least the same size as the text on a nutrition label. You’ll see one of three statements:

  1. Produced with genetic engineering.
  2. Partially produced with genetic engineering.
  3. May be produced with genetic engineering.

Most products that need labels will be processed foods and the food’s packaging will have the label on it. From product labels we have already seen, they look very similar to an allergen statement, listed after the ingredients or towards the bottom of the package. The type must always been in plain sight as a stand-alone statement. For products that City Market must label (select items in Bulk and Produce, as well as some prepared foods in Meat & Seafood and the Grab n’ Go Cooler), the text will appear on the bin number or on the price tag.

Names:

You may hear different legal names in conversations about the labeling policy. Here’s the breakdown of what you might hear.

H.112 – The bill that first introduced the topic of GMO labeling

Act 120 – When the bill became law, it became Act 120

GE Food Labeling Rule – An alternative name for Act 120

Consumer Protection Rule CP 121 – adopted by Attorney General’s Office on April 17, 2015; this is the outline of rules to clarify the law. You can read an annotated version of CP 121 here.

 

Food that are commonly genetically modified:

GMO labeling is important for products that contain commonly GE ingredients. So, products containing any of the following ingredients may have a higher chance of containing GMOs.

 

  • Soy
  • Canola
  • Corn
  • Sugar beets
  • Hawaiian papaya
  • Alfalfa
  • Yellow squash
  • Zucchini

 

Organic certifications prohibit the use of genetic engineering. If anything is labeled USDA Organic or Vermont Certified Organic, it does not contain GMOs.

 

Exemptions:

Most products that require a label will be processed, packaged food items. There are a few exemptions to the labeling requirement, including the following items:

 

  • Food intended for immediate consumption (City Market’s hot bar and deli sandwiches)
  • Coffee & Tea
  • Products derived entirely from animals (including meat, unflavored milk, plain yogurt, honey, and eggs)
  • Alcohol
  • Supplements and Medicinal Foods

 

It’s important to look at these exceptions in context. Firstly, any organic products within these categories would automatically be GMO-free. Our hot bar continually sources as much local and organic products as possible. Coffee, tea, and alcohol are uncommon products to use GM technology and with the exception of salmon, no animal has been genetically modified. City Market does not carry genetically engineered salmon, nor do we plan to carry any future GE animal. When it comes to supplements, you’ll want to look for organic or Non-GMO Project certified products. Brands like Urban Moonshine, Garden of Life, MegaFood, and Host Defense carry many GMO-free products.

 

This topic is very complex. Although I’ve tried to outline the most relevant information, if you have more questions, please reach out! City Market staff go through a GMO training and our whole team has been working hard to understand it fully and implement the policy smoothly. We are all here and happy to help.

 

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