A coalition of five organizations representing agriculture, food, and biotechnology, want products derived from genetically engineered pigs to be labeled as such.
A Feb. 24 letter to Health Minister Marjorie Michel that included Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald as a recipient says mandating this level of transparency is necessary.
The ministry indicated its commitment to transparency and communication with the public, but “it does not provide Canadians with the product information they need to make informed choices at the grocery store,” the letter says.
The letter is in response to Health Canada’s ruling on PRRS-resistant pigs.
In January, the health ministry gave pigs that are gene edited for resistance to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome the green light for human and livestock consumption.
And in its decision Health Canada determined food from these pigs won’t need additional labels.