USDA chief suggests technology fix to GM labelling dispute

摘要

US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has waded into the issue of the labelling of food derived from genetically modified (GM) crops, expressing frustration with the controversy and suggesting that technology may offer a ready solution. "Candidly, I think the debate is a 20th century debate in the 21 st century," Secretary Vilsack told members of the US House of Representatives' appropriations agriculture subcommittee. The former Iowa governor suggested that consumers could use smart phones or "reading devices" to scan bar codes on products that could provide an array of information, including whether they contain GM ingredients. "That would allow folks to have all the information they need and want ... without necessarily creating a label that might send the wrong message about the safety of a product," Secretary Vilsack explained.