As the issue of food labeling garners more attention, a food policy advocate says third-party verification should continue to play a role.
Lena Brook is with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and tells Brownfield there are established programs food companies are voluntarily using to verify their products are antibiotic or GMO-free.
“We put a lot of stock and trust into the analysis of food labels that Consumer Reports does. And when it comes to antibiotics, they have a handful of labels that are considered meaningful.”
Those include USDA verified organic, grass-fed and animal-welfare approved labels.
Brook says the third-party verification serves a very important purpose, but consumer demands are changing the landscape for food companies.
“There’s also a recognition that relying on voluntary pledges really isn’t a substitute for binding regulations and for strong policy.”
Brook says NRDC is happy to see more food companies making voluntary commitments to reduce antibiotics from the supply chain, and hopes those same companies continue to rely on third-party verification to earn the trust of their customers.
Source: www.brownfieldagnews.com