Brazil - Food produced from transgenics: is the consumer right to information guaranteed?
Brazil
Aug 26, 2024
The study aimed to evaluate whether the presence of transgenics is reported on the label of industrialized foods label as required by Brazilian legislation. In a supermarket, photographic records of industrialized food labels packaged in the absence of the consumer were taken, of all available brands, and the dimensions of the transgenic symbol were assessed. Subsequently, the labels were analyzed in relation to Brazilian legislation regarding the labeling of transgenics. 1,261 labels were evaluated, with only 39% containing information about transgenic ingredients. All food groups had labels with inadequacies. While 93% of the labels in the desserts and similar group (G15) were in compliance with legislation, none of the groups of fresh pasta, gnocchi and similar (G4), instant noodles and soups (G5), frozen savory preparations (G6), legumes and oilseeds (G11) and ice cream, popsicles and similar (G16) met all the required items. Most of the inadequacies referred to the incorrect description of the expression of the presence of transgenic ingredients in the main panel. The graphic presentation of the transgenic symbol was presented correctly on more than 90% of the labels. 771 labels were checked with possible transgenic ingredients derived from soy, corn and cotton, which did not present this information. Among the possible transgenic ingredients, the presence of soy lecithin, corn starch and soy oil stands out. It is concluded that the right to consumer information about the presence of transgenics in food is partially guaranteed. Uninformed consumers are purchasing processed foods that contain transgenics, without having access to the information required by law on the labels.
Author(s): Bissacotti, A.P & Storck, C.R.
Published in: Nutrivisa Revista de Nutrição e Vigilância em Saúde