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Food Labels, Information, and Trade in GMOs

Author

Listed:
  • Huffman Wallace

    (Department of Economics, Iowa State University, 260 Heady Hall, Ames, IA 50011, USA)

  • McCluskey Jill

    (Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, DC 99164, USA)

Abstract

This article focuses on the economics of labeling of genetically modified (GM) products in an international trade context with coexistence of both GM and traditional products and asymmetric information. Even though the scientific consensus is that GM food products are safe for human consumption, there has been a lack of acceptance by a growing segment of consumers, which has resulted in reduced or curbed demand for GM food products. The size of the anti-GM consumer segment differs across countries and suggests that coexistence will continue in a subset of countries for the near future. Many countries have developed regulations, approval processes, and labelling policies that largely reflect the economics and politics specific to each country. Hence, different labeling policies have emerged across countries. These differences in policies will continue to create difficulties, and may lead to the dominance of private standards.

Suggested Citation

  • Huffman Wallace & McCluskey Jill, 2017. "Food Labels, Information, and Trade in GMOs," Journal of Agricultural & Food Industrial Organization, De Gruyter, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:bjafio:v:15:y:2017:i:1:p:9:n:6
    DOI: 10.1515/jafio-2016-0038
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    biotechnology; GM food; GM labeling;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q17 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Agriculture in International Trade
    • Q18 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Agricultural Policy; Food Policy; Animal Welfare Policy

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