Milling & Baking News - August 14, 2018 - 7

Editorial

Clash in biotechnology trends ahead for food

wo major opposing trends affecting the food Service for the Acquisition of Agri Biotech Applicasector appear set for a collision, with any num- tions (ISAAA). In its annual report, the group said the
ber of widely differing outcomes plausible.
adoption rate for corn rose to 93.4% in 2017 from the
While the U.S. Department of Agriculture failed to year before while soybeans held steady at 94%. Biomeet its July 29 deadline for submitting final rules on engineered canola acreage leapt 41% with adoption
the law, regulations mandating the labeling of foods jumping to 100% versus 90% the year before. Sugar
containing bioengineered ingredients are on the hori- beets also were estimated to have a 100% share. Other
zon, taking effect as soon as January 2020.
foods gaining traction in 2017 in the United States
Uncertain is the degree food companies will be in- were non-browning Arctic apple varieties and nonclined to reformulate products rather than disclose the browning potatoes that are less likely to form acrylpresence of bioengineered ingredients that may be or amide when exposed to high heat.
may become a negative in the minds of certain shopGlobally, bioengineered acreage rose 3% last year,
pers. Pointing to the possiblity reformulation may be including significant progress in areas of the world
pursued is the widespread move across the food and traditionally resistant to the technology. Seedings
beverage industry toward cleaner labels, one of if not were up 5% in India and 242% in Bangladesh. ISAAA
the very top trend in food innovation for several years said Africa currently has 12 bioengineered crops in
running. The Non-GMO Project
13 different countries with 14
To a real degree, the buzz
already describes its verification
traits in various stages of plantas "one of the fastest growing laaround going G.M.O.-free has
ing and study.
bels in the retail sector."
To a degree, the buzz around
exceeded the reality in the
To a degree, history also may
going G.M.O.-free has exceeded
baking industry as well.
point toward a move to reforthe reality in the baking indusmulate ahead of the compliance deadline. The last try as well. Industry sources indicate baking compamajor comparable mandated labeling addition was nies have been disenchanted with the results of exthe requirement in 2006 to disclose trans fatty acids periments with non-G.M.O. labeling. While ingredient
above 0.5 grams per serving in foods. Before the re- costs (principally sweetener and shortening) have been
quirement took effect, many food companies, includ- significantly higher for foods free of bioengineered ining baking companies, reformulated products to en- gredients, little if any sales lift has materialized. As a
sure the Nutrition Facts Label line read "zero" for result, leading baking executives appear to be focusing
trans fats. Yes, a comparison between bioengineered on organic brands as the vehicle to meet the needs of
ingredients (the safety of which is strongly supported consumers avoiding bioengineered ingredients.
by science) and trans fats (the danger of which has
Still, attitudes may change when the compliance
been proven) is imperfect, but in both cases percep- date approaches and disclosure becomes a reality.
tion rather than reality may be the ultimate driver of Much hinges on the important details of the regulalabeling/formulation decisions.
tions, still to be issued (the U.S.D.A. has sifted through
While the expansion of clean label efforts certainly more than 17,000 public comments on the topic). For
has generated considerable attention toward the re- example, if the Department exempts highly refined inmoval of bioengineered ingredients in food, the re- gredients such as sweeteners and bakery shortening
ality of trends in agricultural biotechnology paints a for labeling (an idea opposed by the baking industry),
different story. The expansion of acreage planted to bakers may be more inclined to go bioengineered-free.
bioengineered ingredients continues to grow. In 2017, The specific rules, when they are issued, how consumseeded area devoted to such crops reached a record er attitudes evolve in coming months and years, and
185 million acres in the United States, up 3% from reformulation decisions made across the entire food
180 million in 2016, according to the International and beverage industry merit close attention. MBN
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