 | By Daphne Lee, News Editor | | The term GMO—genetically modified organism—sounds like it's a Frankenstein baby. It just refers to crops or animals that are genetically altered in a way that doesn't occur naturally.
Most GMO crops grown in the U.S. are used for animal feed, but some of them are used to make common products like sugar and corn syrup.
But the word GMO might be outdated very soon. Instead, we have to get used to a new term: "bioengineered." | | | Today's Top Story | | USDA's New Food Label: Bioengineered |  | Due to a new federal standard, you'll start seeing food labels that say "bioengineered" instead of "GMOs" this year.
The label will look like this: |  | Before this change, food labeling for genetically modified crops was only regulated on a state-by-state basis. The new national rule is an attempt to offer more transparency on the ingredients that make up our daily diet.
But advocates worry that the term "bioengineered" will only cause more confusion for people who aren't familiar with the label. The new regulation also has a lot of loopholes that allow companies to hide the information from consumers.
For example, foods that are "primarily meat, poultry, or egg products" don't require a BE food disclosure. Highly refined ingredients like some sugars and oils aren't subject to this labeling requirement either.
By the new USDA standard, over 70% of the bioengineered foods could be exempt from the regulation, according to the Center for Food Safety. | | Know More | | If you can't see the "BE" label, there might be a QR code where you can scan for more information about the food item. It's the first time that the USDA allows the use of QR code in lieu of text-based labels. This might be a win for food manufacturers, and a loss for less tech-savvy consumers. | | Feel Better | | Bioengineered foods are generally safe. The label change will only affect how you can access information about the food, but it won't change how the food is grown or produced. | | |  | | In a 2018 survey, nearly half of consumers (47%) don't consider whether foods are genetically modified when buying them. Those who do take GMO into consideration tend to be in their late 20s and early 30s. |  |  | | Healthcare Workers Hate CDC's New Isolation Guidance | | The CDC shortened its recommended isolation period to 5 days but won't require people to test again before ending their quarantine. After the new guidance was issued, some hospital workers reported being forced to go back to work even if they're still sick with COVID-19. Nurse unions have criticized the CDC's weakened guidelines as "good for business," but not for public health. | | | | What Can We Do About the Youth Mental Health Crisis? | | Young people are facing unprecedented challenges with devastating effects on their mental health. In 2019, one in three high school students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, an increase of 40% from 10 years prior. The pandemic has only made it worse. Experts say parents should reassure their kids that they're cared for unconditionally and continue to offer support. It's also helpful to learn about signs of mental illness for early intervention. | | | | | | | |  | | Grinding or clenching your teeth might be a sign of stress, but it can also be an overlooked trigger for migraine, according to Huma Sheikh, MD, a Verywell Medical Review Board member. |  | | If you wake up with bilateral temporal headaches, it may be a good idea to ask a dentist if you were grinding your teeth overnight unknowingly. | |  |  | Huma Sheikh, MD
Clinical Instructor at Brigham and Women's Hospital
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