Genetic engineering is a method of plant breeding. FDA currently requires labeling based on the safety and nutrition of the food product, not the method of plant breeding. Should bananas, taro and sweet potato be labeled to indicate they were bred by cloning? Corn, soybean, rice, barley and potato from chromosome engineering? Flax from somaclonal variation? Seedless watermelon, lettuce and wheat from chemical mutagenesis? Should the label on Calrose rice indicate that it was developed using radiation mutagenesis by exposure to gamma rays, or Rio Red grapefruit’s label indicate that it was mutagenized by thermal neutrons? These are safe products, regardless of the process used to breed them, and requiring a processed-based label would imply otherwise.

FDA’s science-based policy on labeling works well - it is based on the safety of the product, not the process used in its development – and this is what should be endorsed by congress.