What Is Bioengineered Food & How Safe Is It?

Since their introduction in the early 1990s, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have become a significant part of our global food supply. GMOs now referred to as bioengineered foods are a result of biotechnology, which is a field that alters the genetic makeup of plants or animals to create improved produce.

Throughout the years, bioengineered food has been sparking debates over its long-term impact on human health and changes to the environment. To address these concerns, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched an Agricultural Biotechnology Education and Outreach Initiative in 2017, aiming to raise awareness by providing science-based information about genetically modified organisms.

Since 2022, the implementation of the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard in the United States should help to clarify the origin of the food American citizens are buying even more.  Foods containing “genetically engineered” ingredients or genetically modified organisms have to be labeled as “bioengineered.” This new labeling includes a phone number or QR code for more information and aims to standardize the identification of genetically modified foods in the market.

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