We just launched a new feature that allows users to easily indicate bioengineered ingredients/foods on their nutrition labels as required by the 2022 National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard (NBFDS). In our previous blog detailing the FDA’s requirements about disclosing bioengineered foods we discussed when it’s necessary to provide this information, who/what is exempt, and how to make the disclosure according to the guidelines. Here, we’ll review the high level regulations and explain how our new feature works to simplify compliance.

What is a bioengineered ingredient?

You may be used to hearing bioengineered ingredients referred to as GMOs or Genetically Modified Organisms. However, the FDA/USDA prefers the specificity of the term bioengineered and defines it as foods “that contain detectable genetic material that has been modified through certain lab techniques and cannot be created through conventional breeding or found in nature."

Keep in mind, many staple food products in the US are primarily bioengineered. This includes things like canola, corn, potatoes, and soybeans. You can check the Agricultural Marketing Service updated list of BE crops.

How does the feature work?

On our ingredient statement page, there is now a check box next to each ingredient in your recipe to indicate whether or not that ingredient is bioengineered. Our system will automatically check off “bioengineered” for known ingredients (i.e. if you directly use canola oil or canola oil is the sub-ingredient of another product in your recipe, it will be marked as bioengineered by default).

While we take steps to automatically indicate bioengineered ingredients, you still have ultimate control and can override the defaults . For instance, if you’re using a corn product that is specifically not bioengineered, you can uncheck that box. Making a change like this, will make the change across all your recipes using the ingredient, so you only have to do it once.

From the "Label sections" drop down of the label page, you will now see a checkbox to “hide bioengineered claim”. By default, the system is set to hide the bioengineered claim on your recipes. However, if you’d like to change this default you can do so from your user settings page. Also, keep in mind that small food manufacturers are exempt from the disclosure requirements. So, food manufacturers with annual receipts below $2,500,000 do not have to indicate bioengineered ingredients.

If you need to indicate bioengineered ingredients, simply uncheck the box and the statement “Contains bioengineered food ingredients” will appear beneath your business name and address. If your product contains only bioengineered ingredients then you can select the box to “Indicate bioengineered food”. This action will change the statement from “Contains bioengineered food ingredients” to “Bioengineered food”. While there are a number of ways you can indicate bioengineered foods (which we cover in our other blog), we opted for the simplest, text declaration.

Closing Thoughts

We appreciate that this regulation provides more transparency for consumers. While bioengineered foods are not inherently worse, knowing what you’re getting is always a good thing. That said, if you’re not using any bioengineered ingredients making that apparent in your presentation and branding can be a good differentiator. If you’re interested in going that route, check out our blog about food certifications.