WASHINGTON (AP) – In the ever-complicated debate over labeling of genetically modified foods, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says he has an idea: use your smart phone.
Vilsack told members of Congress on Wednesday that consumers could just use their phones to scan special bar codes or other symbols on food packages in the grocery store. All sorts of information could pop up, such as whether the food’s ingredients include genetically modified organisms, or GMOs.
“Industry could solve that issue in a heartbeat,” Vilsack said.
The Food and Drug Administration handles most food-package labeling, so Vilsack’s idea isn’t an official proposal. But the agriculture secretary suggested it could head off the debate between the food industry and those who have pushed for package labels that identify GMOs.
At least one labeling advocate disagreed. Scott Faber, head of the national Just Label It campaign, says most consumers don’t have the know-how to use their phones to scan a bar code or so-called QR code, a commonly used scannable image.