No laws in Canada mandate specific labels for genetically engineered foods
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 National Farmers Union, Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN), Vigilance OGM, Kids Right to Know, and Safe Food Matters, signed onto the letter.
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.
“Because Health Canada found no health and safety concerns, no special labeling is required for foods from these PRRSV-resistant pigs,” the ministry said.
No laws in Canada mandate specific labels for genetically engineered foods.
This labeling decision is voluntary but isn’t acted on, the groups say.
“It is clear that companies are not volunteering to label their genetically engineered products. To our knowledge, no company has voluntarily labelled their food as genetically engineered,” the letter says.
This is despite an October 2025 poll showing Canadians support this level of transparency.
The Leger study of 1,606 people commissioned by CBAN and Vigilance OGM found that 83 per cent of Canadians favour mandatory labelling for GMO foods.
The organizations want the mandatory labels to expand beyond pork products.
In October 2024 Health Canada provided its safety assessment of the Flavr Savr purple tomato, which has been gene edited to slow its ripening rate.
The health ministry found it “to be as safe and nutritious as other tomato varieties.
This tomato and its seeds are expected to be available for sale this year.