Lakewood, CO—Natural Grocers shared the news that a federal appeals court ruled in favor of Natural Grocers, the Center for Food Safety (CFS), and other plaintiffs challenging U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) rules under the Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard Act. Natural Grocers led the lawsuit to uphold consumers' right to clear, accurate and easily accessible information about their food.
About the ruling on GMOs
The decision overturns three major loopholes that the plaintiffs argued would have kept consumers in the dark. Natural Grocers outlined the issues:
- GMO vs. Bioengineered: Retailers and brands may use the name "GMO," which consumers widely recognize. Previous USDA rules focused on the exclusive use of "bioengineered," a term that plaintiffs argued was confusing and infringed on free speech rights.
- QR Codes vs. On-Package Info: Rejecting rules allowing companies to rely solely on QR codes or text messages for disclosure, the court ruled that companies are required to provide clear, on-package information accessible to everyone. Natural Grocers argued that not all consumers have smartphones or reliable internet access.
- Ingredient Labeling: The court found the USDA was wrong to exempt highly processed foods, such as oils and sugars, from labeling. As Natural Grocers explains, even if altered genes are undetectable in the final product, the ingredients still originate from bioengineered crops. USDA must correct this in their next rulemaking.
"Congress never intended to require the use of specific terms, the sole use of QR codes, or the exclusion of ingredients made from highly processed GMO crops," said Heather Isely, Executive Vice President of Natural Grocers, which prohibits most GMO ingredients in the grocery products it sells, including those produced using new genetic techniques such as gene-editing and cell culture. "We are pleased the court recognized the shortcomings of the final rule and mandated corrections. Natural Grocers will remain actively engaged in the GMO regulatory process."
George Kimbrell, Legal Director of the Center for Food Safety, added, "This hard-won victory means consumers will eventually see the clear and accurate GMO label information they deserve. The USDA must now correct its rules and make label disclosures readily accessible across the board."
To help keep consumers informed about legislative and regulatory developments that impact access to health and wellness products, Natural Grocers offers Advocacy Alerts: advocacy.naturalgrocers.com/sign_in/. To help consumers, the family-operated organic and natural grocery retailer also outlines its product standards and shares a list of Things We Won't Carry and Why.
