WASHINGTON, October 14 (RIA Novosti) – The Consumers Union, which has found traces of genetically engineered corn in a product that was labeled as non-GMO food, believes there is no place for misleading labels, Michael Crupain, a representative from the union told RIA Novosti Wednesday.
"We believe labels should be truthful, we would like to make sure that happens," Crupain, the Consumers Union's Associate Director of the Food and Safety Sustainability Center, told RIA Novosti.
In order for products to have a Non-GMO Project Verified label, their ingredients should have 0.9 percent GMO ingredients or less. The Consumers Union study examined six different packages of the Xochitl Totopos De Maiz original corn chips between April and July 2014 and found that the product tested positive for over 0.9 percent of GMO corn.
"We really think that people have the right to know what's in their foods," said Crupain.
The group's research was part of a larger investigation that looked at the prevalence of soy and genetically engineered (GE) corn from 80 different labeled and unlabeled popular processed foods.
In response to the Consumers Union's finding, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) agreed to further examine the group's claim, but it is still unclear when they will do so.
"We will review your submission thoroughly to determine whether commission action is appropriate and will contact you if we need additional information," Mary Engle, the Associate Director of Advertising Practices at the Federal Trade Commission, said in a statement responding to the Consumers Union's finding.
Crupain says that he is satisfied with the FTC's response for now, but will follow up with them again soon.
Manufacturers are required to label foods containing GMO ingredients in over 60 countries around the world. In the United States and Canada, GMO labeling is not mandatory.
