USDA approves label for meat from animals fed a GMO-free diet

[thesquanderer]

Funny… looks like it will be easier to find out if the animal you're eating had been fed GMO corn than it will be to find out whether the corn YOU are eating is GMO. But it's progress…

The Agriculture Department has approved a label for meat and liquid egg products that includes a claim about the absence of genetically engineered products.

It is the first time that the department, which regulates meat and poultry processing, has approved a non-G.M.O. label claim, which attests that meat certified by the Non-GMO Project came from animals that never ate feed containing genetically engineered ingredients like corn, soy and alfalfa.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/21/business/us-approves-a-label-for-meat-from-animals-fed-a-diet-free-of-gene-modified-products.html

[byeya]

1. At first glance, it looks like a step forward. Maybe because GMOs are so widespread, it takes effort

for a stockman to find and use non-GMO food.
I hope my first impression is correct.
Thanks for the post.

[thesquanderer]

2. Reading it again...

...it sounds like maybe the way they assure that an animal hasn't eaten GMO corn is essentially by certifying it hasn't been fed corn at all. That is, maybe even the stockmen can't tell whether any corn they obtain is GMO or not, so the only thing they can do to qualify for this label is to use feed for which no GMO version exists. (Or maybe grow their own.) At any rate, any progress in GMO awareness and transparency is welcome!

[byeya]

3. Yes, it's a plus. And, I don't think cattle should be fed corn anyway because they do not handle it

well and it's not part of their natural diet. It's used mainly in feedlots to get them fat. Let them eat grass.

[Catherina]

4. I'm frankly surprised. This is great n/t