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.
The 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.
The struggling Canadian company is preparing to release yet another handset in the hopes of recovery.
BlackBerry has announced that it will soon be releasing the most secure Android phone the world has ever seen. The company has made it clear that it will not give up its hardware business unless it is given no other choice. Now, it’s hoping that topping security levels over any other Android device will bring its smartphones back into relevance.
The company has unveiled the DTEK50, which is a smartphone the company hopes will appeal to “everyone.”
BlackBerry feels the appeal of a highly secure Android phone is increasing. Consumers are coming to realize that there are many threats to their security over mobile, but they can’t give up their smartphones. Therefore, the company wants to stand out from among the rest by offering those shoppers a device that will keep their personal, private and financial information safe.
Mobile security is a considerable concern among many consumers. That said, a large number haven’t taken even the most basic steps needed to protect their devices. The hope from BlackBerry is that if the device has the added security built in, it will have a significant draw.
The company feels that consumers and businesses want the most secure Android phone available.
Senior vice president of global device sales, Alex Thurber, said “We feel that customers today, certainly businesses and consumers, are beginning to understand just how important security is when it comes to their smartphone.” Thurber spoke during a BlackBerry webcast from the company’s Waterloo, Ontario headquarters.
He explained that it’s important for everyone to be aware of privacy and security issues, risks and threats on their devices, no matter who they are. “I certainly want my children to have secure devices. I don’t want the world looking at what they take pictures of or their emails or their text messages,” he said.
The new BlackBerry DTEK50 has been designed to be the most secure Android phone. It contains built-in features such as encryption and malware protection to keep all user info safe. It also provides enhanced capabilities for viewing and controlling the access apps have to the mobile device features such as the camera.
The 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.