Sarah Brew Comments on AMA's Policy on Bioengineered Foods in Law360

The American Medical Association's adoption of a platform upholding the safety of genetically engineered foods may stymie efforts by consumer groups to require labeling of the products, Law360 reported in the article, "AMA Support for Bioengineered Food Will Hurt Labeling Drive."

"Consumers look to the AMA to be the guardian of public health and they trust what the AMA has to say," said Sarah Brew of Faegre Baker Daniels. Thus, endorsement of bioengineered foods' safety by the AMA could sway swing voters from supporting ballot initiatives requiring labeling of such products.

Despite the AMA's statement that these products are safe, the group called for mandatory premarket safety testing of genetically engineered foods to measure changes to nutrient and toxic agent levels and other aspects of the products. Experts say this approach does not differ greatly from that of the government.

"I don't think the AMA contemplates a premarket approval process as rigorous or lengthy as those in place for drugs or medical devices," Brew told Law360.