Mike Pompeo: “This fact exemplifies why labeling as to whether or not food has been produced through genetic engineering is…”

“This fact exemplifies why labeling as to whether or not food has been produced through genetic engineering is appropriately voluntary, not mandatory, as it seems unnecessary to require labeling about the use of genetic engineering if the labeled food contains no genetically engineered material. I would just add--and hope that the gentleman from Texas would concur--that this approach is consistent with the exemption from the labeling requirements for major food allergens that Congress has established for highly refined oils as part of the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004. While the eight major food allergens--milk, egg, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts, and soybeans--must be listed on food labels where they or ingredients containing protein derived from these allergens are added to food, the definition of ``major food allergen'' excludes any highly refined oil derived from a major food allergen and ``any ingredient derived from such highly refined oil.''”