What does it mean when a package says bioengineered food ingredients?

October 11, 2025 •

4 min read

Since January 1, 2022, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has mandated that certain foods must be labeled to disclose the presence of bioengineered food ingredients. This requirement, part of the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard (NBFDS), aims to provide clarity to consumers about how their food is made.

Quick Summary

The phrase 'contains bioengineered food ingredients' or a related symbol indicates that a product contains detectable genetic material altered through specific laboratory techniques. This disclosure is required under U.S. law, but certain exemptions and different disclosure methods can cause confusion for consumers. Understanding the rules helps clarify what is in your food.

Key Points

BE Labeling Is Mandatory Since 2022: The USDA requires food manufacturers to label products containing detectable bioengineered genetic material, replacing the informal use of 'GMO'.
Detectable Genetic Material Is Key: The standard only applies to foods where the genetic modification is detectable in the final product; highly refined ingredients like oils and sugars are often exempt.
Four Ways to Disclose: Manufacturers can use text, a specific symbol, a QR code, or a phone number to provide the required bioengineered food information.
Exemptions Exist: Rules exempt very small manufacturers, restaurants, and products derived from animals fed BE feed, meaning not all bioengineered content will be disclosed.
Major Scientific Consensus on Safety: Leading health organizations, including the FDA and WHO, state that currently available bioengineered foods are safe to eat, though public debate continues.
Organic Certification is a Reliable Alternative: To avoid bioengineered ingredients entirely, look for the USDA Organic seal, which strictly prohibits the use of GMOs.
Look for Third-Party Verification: The Non-GMO Project Verified label is another reliable third-party certification that confirms a product is free of genetically engineered ingredients.

What are Bioengineered Food Ingredients?

In the United States, a food labeled as containing bioengineered (BE) ingredients means it includes detectable genetic material that has been modified through laboratory techniques. These modifications are not something that could be achieved through conventional breeding or found in nature. The term "bioengineered" was officially established by the USDA's National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard (NBFDS) to replace the more commonly known, but less formally defined, term "genetically modified organism," or GMO.

Bioengineering is a form of genetic modification used to give crops and animals desirable traits, such as resistance to pests and diseases, tolerance to herbicides, or enhanced nutritional value. For example, bioengineered corn might be resistant to certain insects, while some bioengineered papayas were developed to resist the ringspot virus. The USDA maintains an official list of foods that have been bioengineered and are commercially available, which includes key crops like:

Alfalfa
Canola
Corn
Soybean
Sugar beet
Papaya (ringspot virus-resistant varieties)
Squash (some varieties)
Potato (some varieties)
AquAdvantage Salmon

Understanding the Disclosure Methods

The NBFDS provides manufacturers with several options for disclosing the presence of bioengineered ingredients, leading to different indicators on food packaging. A consumer can encounter one of the following methods:

Text disclosure: A simple, clear text statement near the ingredients list, such as “Bioengineered food” or “Contains a bioengineered food ingredient”.
Symbol disclosure: The USDA-designed circular symbol containing the word “BIOENGINEERED”. This symbol can be found in color or black and white.
Electronic or digital link: A QR code that, when scanned with a smartphone, takes the user to a webpage with the disclosure information. The law requires this page to appear immediately and not contain marketing or promotional content.
Text message or phone number: An instruction to text a command word to a number or call a phone number to receive the bioengineered food information. This option is primarily available to small food manufacturers.

Comparing Bioengineered Disclosure Options


Disclosure Method	Pros for Consumers	Cons for Consumers	How to Access Information
Text	Easiest to read and understand at a glance. Directly on the package.	May not provide a detailed explanation of the modification.	Read the ingredient or information panel on the package.
Symbol	Visually recognizable and prominent. Can be spotted quickly.	Some consumers may not be familiar with the symbol's meaning.	Look for the green and white circular symbol with the word "BIOENGINEERED".
Electronic (QR Code)	Provides detailed information via a web page. Standardized first-screen display.	Requires a smartphone and internet access. Less transparent and quick than text or symbol.	Scan the QR code with your phone's camera.
Text/Phone	Useful for consumers without reliable internet or a smartphone.	Inconvenient and slower than on-package options.	Call or text the number provided on the package.

Important Exemptions and Nuances

Not all foods that are related to genetic engineering are required to carry a BE label. These exemptions are key to understanding why some products derived from genetically modified crops may not be marked.

Highly refined ingredients: If an ingredient is derived from a bioengineered crop but is so highly refined that it no longer contains detectable modified genetic material, it is exempt from mandatory labeling. This includes common items like sugar derived from sugar beets and corn oil. A manufacturer may, however, voluntarily disclose these using the phrase “derived from bioengineering”.
Animal products: Products from animals that consumed bioengineered feed are exempt. For example, milk or eggs from animals fed bioengineered corn do not require a disclosure.
Small manufacturers and restaurants: Very small food manufacturers and food served in restaurants or similar retail food establishments are not required to provide a disclosure.
Meat, poultry, and egg products: Foods where meat, poultry, or eggs are the most predominant ingredient (or second most after water/broth) are regulated by other statutes and are therefore exempt.

Safety of Bioengineered Foods

The topic of bioengineered foods has been a source of public debate, but a strong scientific consensus exists regarding their safety. Leading scientific organizations, including the National Academies of Sciences, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the World Health Organization (WHO), have all concluded that bioengineered foods currently available on the market are safe for consumption and pose no more risk than their conventional counterparts. Extensive safety evaluations and long-term studies have found no substantiated evidence that bioengineered crops are less safe to eat. These products must meet the same stringent safety standards as traditional foods.

Making Your Choice

For consumers who wish to avoid bioengineered ingredients, the NBFDS provides the tools to make informed decisions. However, due to the various exemptions, relying on the mandatory BE label alone is not a foolproof method. A more definitive approach is to look for third-party certifications or choose USDA-certified organic products. The USDA Organic seal is a reliable indicator, as organic standards prohibit the use of genetically modified organisms. Another option is the Non-GMO Project Verified label, which is a third-party certification that confirms a product meets a specific non-GMO standard.

For additional information about the standard and a list of bioengineered foods, refer to the USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service website.

Conclusion

When a package says “contains bioengineered food ingredients,” it means the product includes a food with detectable genetic modifications, as defined and required by the USDA's NBFDS since 2022. While the standard offers several ways for manufacturers to disclose this information—including text, symbols, and digital links—its effectiveness is limited by exemptions for certain refined products, small businesses, and food served in restaurants. For those prioritizing a diet free of genetically engineered foods, supplementing the mandatory BE label with third-party certifications like USDA Organic or Non-GMO Project Verified is the most comprehensive strategy. Ultimately, the label serves as a starting point for consumers to understand and choose their food. The scientific community generally considers bioengineered foods safe, but the disclosure empowers individuals to align their dietary choices with their personal preferences.

Frequently Asked Questions

While the terms are often used interchangeably, 'bioengineered' is the specific legal term adopted by the USDA for mandatory labeling in the United States. The definition of bioengineered is narrower than the broader term GMO, as it only applies when the modified genetic material is detectable in the final food product.

Yes, according to major scientific and regulatory bodies such as the FDA, World Health Organization (WHO), and the National Academies of Sciences, bioengineered foods on the market today have passed rigorous safety assessments and pose no greater risk to health than their non-bioengineered counterparts.

The bioengineered food symbol is a green and white circular design developed by the USDA, which features the word “BIOENGINEERED”. It is one of the four ways manufacturers can disclose the presence of bioengineered ingredients.

The absence of a label can be due to several exemptions in the NBFDS. For example, highly refined ingredients with no detectable modified genetic material, products from animals fed bioengineered feed, and foods from very small manufacturers do not require disclosure.

The best way to be certain is to look for third-party certifications, such as the USDA Organic seal or the Non-GMO Project Verified label, as these have stricter standards that do not allow genetically modified ingredients. In the U.S., mandatory disclosure doesn't cover all cases.

Some of the most common bioengineered crops used to create ingredients in processed foods include corn, soybeans, sugar beets, and canola. For instance, corn syrup or soybean oil may be derived from bioengineered crops.

No, the label only indicates that the product 'contains a bioengineered food ingredient' or is a 'bioengineered food'. It does not specify which particular ingredient is bioengineered, leaving consumers to research further or rely on other certifications.