Farm Headlines, Monday October 10, 2016

Food Industry Leaders Say Consumers Want GMO labels

With a new federal labeling standard on the way, food company executives told the Wall Street Journal that consumers want GMO products labeled. The Wall Street Journal gathered executives in agribusiness, consumer products and government to explore challenges and opportunities in the industry last week. A loud voice in the labeling acceptance world, Campbell Soup Company, says the company supports labeling because consumers want transparency. Meanwhile, Panera Bread’s founders say they are “not taking a unilateral position on GMOs,” but added Panera supports GMO labeling because that is what their customers want. However, executives of Wal-Mart took a different angle. A Wal-Mart spokesperson says “the debate never should have been about labeling, but rather about whether GMOs are safe or not, and relying on science as the guide.” Wal-Mart officials say food producers and retailers may have to educate consumers to close the gap between perceived and actual risk, but added the company will “always offer what the customer wants.”

TTIP Talks Turning South, Deal Faces Uncertain Future

Trade negotiators for the U.S. and the European Union left scheduled talks in New York last week with little progress made regarding the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership. U.S. negotiators even rejected an EU request for three days of agriculture talks. The National Pork Producers Council, which supports TTIP, said the group is skeptical of father progress of the trade deal based on the stubbornness of the EU on various issues. The 28-country bloc is willing to eliminate tariffs on nearly all goods, for example, but the EU announced it is unwilling to remove tariffs on beef, poultry and pork. The EU has indicated it would allow some market access for “sensitive” products, including meat if the United States agrees to the EU’s demands on reciprocal access and on protections for products labeled with geographical indications. NPPC says the future of TTIP is now more uncertain. Last month, EU trade ministers expressed doubts about getting the trade deal completed before the end of the Obama administration and several called for a pause in negotiations. No talks are scheduled beyond October.

Source;  NAFB News