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Food label QR codes irk consumer advocates

Quick response codes may soon be a prime way to identify which products contain GMO ingredients.

A huge debate is currently raging over the use of food label QR codes to reveal the presence of GMO ingredients. Supporters think this is a quick and easy way to provide consumers with this information. Those opposed feel that it is not enough to make the presence of GMO ingredients known.

A new law has been signed by President Barack Obama that requires GMO foods to be clearly labeled.

This law tells food manufacturers that they must show when genetically modified ingredients are used in their products. It must be presented in plain writing, include an icon created by regulators, or offer information via food label QR codes. That said, healthful food advocates have said that the quick response codes place a barrier between the consumer and the labeling information they need.

Food label QR codes would require the consumer to use a smartphone or tablet to scan with a dedicated app.

Food label QR codes - Organic FoodsThe advocates would like GMO ingredients to be labeled more explicitly than that. If a QR code scan is required in order to obtain the information, not all consumers will be able to easily access it.

According to the Just Label It advocacy group chairperson, Gary Hirshberg, “It is my hope that food corporations reject high-tech gimmicks like QR codes.” Similarly, the Organic Consumers Association activist group has launched a new online petition. The petition against the labeling law that allows GMO disclosures through barcodes currently has over 500,000 signatures. That total was achieved in its first week, and the number continues to grow.

At the same time, food manufacturers insist that using food label QR codes is not for deception. There is no subterfuge in their goals, they say. Food Marketing Institute senior vice president of industry relations, Mark Baum, said “I think it’s a red herring,” of the law’s critics. That institute conducted a study which revealed that only one in five American consumers will scan quick response codes to learn about food products. That said, Baum feels that the number of scanning consumers will rise as more detailed information becomes available through this method.

Pokémon Go update enrages players who demand refunds

Certain third party mobile apps and websites that gave trainers the ability to locate specific monsters are closed.

The latest Pokémon Go update has created a massive stir among its players. Mobile device users who feel like they have to “catch ‘em all” are now short several tools for doing so. Game apps and sites that had given trainers the ability to find specific Pokémon have now been shut down.

This is because the latest update to Pokémon Go has eliminated nearby tracking from its features.

This Pokémon Go update in particular has players up in arms. The update removed the feature for finding Pokémon located nearby and shut down third party maps revealing locations. That said, this first major update to the mobile game changed several other factors about the experience as well.

Pokémon Go Update - Mobile GameFor example, players can now alter the appearance of their trainer. The curveball dynamics have also been changed. Part of the way gym battles function has been altered. The update improved the transfer process for sending unwanted Pokémon to professor Willow.

The footprint distance readings removal was the least popular among the Pokémon Go updates.

Services that players had been using to find nearby Pokémon have been widely shut down. These were forced to close with the latest game app update. This is causing massive upset among players of the most popular app in the world. After having become an overnight sensation that immediately drew millions upon millions of active players, it has already had over 100 million downloads.

Headlines have been repeatedly made as crowds of people have headed to various local landmarks. Dedication to the app has also led people to wander aimlessly into traffic, fall into holes and into lakes, oceans and rivers, walk into posts and even get caught cheating on their girlfriends.

It isn’t clear how long the hysteria over this mobile game app will continue, but what is clear at the moment is that players aren’t happy with the latest Pokémon Go update. One Reddit user, Oxgmum, wrote “Pokémon Go went from a game that I go out to play, to a game I play when I’m out, to a game I never play.” This gained the post more than 2,750 up votes in less than 24 hours.