Labelling of GM foods

There is constant debate about the safety of GM food products and about ethical issues related to the use of gene technology. Some people would like to know if any food product they are purchasing is from a GM source. New labelling rules for genetically modified foods or food containing GM ingredients were introduced in December 2001.

The new food labelling standard required the labelling of GM food and food ingredients – additive or processing aid - where new DNA and/or new protein is present in the final food or where the food has altered characteristics.

Here is an example of such a food label:

Example for processed meat product:

Ingredients: meat (60%), reconstituted textured soy protein*, water, wheat flour, soy protein*, dehydrated potato, salt, beetroot powder, onion powder, mineral salts (450), black pepper, soy lecithin*

*Genetically modified

Another example of a food containing a GM ingredient could be:

Ingredients: wheat flour, water added, yeast, soy flour (genetically modified), vegetable oil, sugar, emulsifiers (471, 472E), preservative (282), enzyme amylase.

Certain GM foods are exempt from labelling as a GM product:

  • highly refined foods where the effect of the refining process is to remove novel DNA and/or novel protein;
  • processing aids or food additives where novel DNA and/or novel protein is not present in the final food;
  • flavours which are present in the food in a concentration of no more than 1g/kg (0.1%);
  • foods, ingredients or processing aids in which the genetically modified food is unintentionally present in a quantity of no more than 10g/kg (1%) per ingredient. This tolerance level only applies where the manufacturer has sought to source non-genetically modified foods or ingredients;
  • food intended for immediate consumption that is prepared and sold from food premises and vending vehicles, including restaurants, take away outlets, caterers or self-catering institutions. In these situations, consumers have the right to ask the proprietor what is in the food being purchased and whether it is from a GM source.
  • The above information is sourced from: http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/mediareleasespublications/ factsheets/factsheets2003/labellinggenetically2170.cfm

Some manufacturers have decided to introduce negative labelling, indicating that food ingredients have been obtained from non-GM sources. For example, certain brands of soy products like soy milk or tofu include the words 'GM Free' on their packaging as a selling point.