COMTEX Newswire | December 14, 1999
Mandatory consultation with FDA would boost consumer confidence
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, at an FDA hearing in Oakland, California, the National Food Processors Association (NFPA) unveiled a model for reviewing the safety of biotech foods and food ingredients. Dr. Rhona Applebaum, NFPA's Executive Vice President for Scientific and Regulatory Affairs and a panelist at the hearing, made the following comments:
"FDA should require that biotech companies consult with them prior to introducing a biotech food or a biotech-derived food product into the market. This consultation should be mandatory. We believe this step would boost consumer confidence in the safety review process - a process that is thorough, rigorous, and scientifically based.
"At the conclusion of the consultation process, before the food or ingredient is introduced into interstate commerce, the biotech company should file with FDA summary documentation to support the determination of safety for the biotech food and derivative ingredients. We believe this is a critical step, so that anyone interested can examine it. Most important is that the general public develops a higher level of comfort regarding the safety of biotech foods.
"NFPA and its member companies strongly support the current FDA policy on labeling requirements for biotech foods. We believe the policy is science-based and is designed to mandate any information on the food label that is material or of consequence to the consumer with respect to safety, health, composition and nutrition.
"NFPA further supports the use of voluntary labeling of foods, whether or not they are produced through modern biotechnology. NFPA has long supported voluntary label statements provided such statements are truthful, non-misleading and disclose the necessary required material facts. Such voluntary label statements could include "Biotech-free" or similar terminology, or, for balance, "Contains biotech ingredients.
"In order to support any voluntary statements, NFPA believes that three criteria must be met: First, a quantitatively based threshold should be established, especially for any "free" claim. Such a threshold should be strict but technologically feasible. Second, every claim needs to be substantiated. For a biotech-related voluntary statement, the ability to substantiate identity preservation and other traceback procedures should be vital components.
"Finally, most biotech-related label claims will need supplementary statements that place the claim in its proper context. NFPA believes supplementary statements are absolutely necessary to prevent potentially misleading claims. A supplemental statement should note that there are no significant differences between biotech and biotech-free versions of the same food."
NFPA is the voice of the $460 billion food processing industry on scientific and public policy issues involving food safety, nutrition, technical and regulatory matters and consumer affairs.
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