Consumers Commonly Asked Questions:

1. Should genetically engineered food be labeled and why? - The FDA does not think that it is necessary to label genetically altered food because their standards are strong enough.  Allthough FDA already requires altered products to be labeled if they can cause an allergy or if they have been significantly altered. Americans are eating genetically modified food without their knowledge. There is not enough research to prove the safety these foods.

2. The benefits of genetically altered foods are herbicide tolerance, disease resistance,  cold tolerance, pest resistance, drought tolerance/salinity tolerance, nutrition, pharmaceuticals and genetically engineered plants, such as poplar trees to clean up heavy metals pollution from the soil.

3. what are the risks for labeling genetically engineered foods?
 -could lead consumers to think the food has negative health effects but some feel that it is very helpful in that farmers would not have to use as many pesticides.

4. Is there a need to label genetically engineered foods from the consumer's point of view?
-Yes, this would be helpful so the consumer can understand how the food is altered and the benefits to them.