Natural Grocers Wins Appeal Against USDA Bioengineered Food Disclosure Rules

A federal appeals court has ruled in favor of Natural Grocers, the Center for Food Safety, and other plaintiffs challenging U.S. Department of Agriculture rules under the Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard Act. Natural Grocers led the lawsuit to uphold consumers' right to clear, accurate and easily accessible information about their food. The decision overturns three major loopholes that plaintiffs argued would have kept consumers in the dark: GMO vs. Bioengineered: Retailers and brands may use the name "GMO," which consumers widely recognize. Previous USDA rules focused on the exclusive use of "bioengineered," a term that plaintiffs argued was confusing and infringed on free speech rights. QR Codes Are Not Enough: The court rejected rules allowing companies to rely solely on QR codes or text messages for disclosure. Natural Grocers argued that not all consumers have smartphones or reliable internet access. The ruling requires companies to provide clear, on-package information accessible to everyone. All Ingredients Must Be Labeled: The court found the USDA was wrong to exempt highly processed foods, such as oils and sugars, from labeling. Even if altered genes are undetectable in the final product, the ingredients still originate from bioengineered crops. The USDA must correct this in their next rulemaking.