Canadian pork producer urges transparency in labeling of genetically modified pork
The request comes after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the entry into the United States of PRRS (porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome)-resistant pigs beginning in 2026. The agency approved the commercial distribution of pigs that can be modified with clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) technology.
Promoters of this technology have claimed that it would reduce animal suffering and limit the use of antibiotics, but duBreton maintains that these claims are misleading and unsupported.
“We’ve achieved the same results for decades, without genetic modification”, said Vincent Breton, president of duBreton. “Through natural breeding, selective breeding, and strict biosecurity protocols, duBreton has raised healthy pigs without antibiotics, while maintaining the integrity of organic farming”.
The organic pork company explained its opposition to gene editing in livestock production for ethical and long-term evaluation reasons.
The company also noted that the practice does not meet the Global Animal Partnership (GAP) standards, Certified Humane Raised & Handled, and USDA Organic standards. It argued that the FDA's action leaves unanswered questions about animal welfare and consumer safety.
DuBreton's proposal, called on the FDA, USDA, CFIA, and Health Canada to impose mandatory labeling on both domestic and imported genetically modified pork products. The company also seeks a specific regulatory framework that differentiates genetically modified pork from conventional and organic meat products.
“Failure to label genetically modified pork is a direct threat to consumer trust and the viability of ethical and sustainable agriculture”, Breton added. “Transparent labeling is essential for consumer choice. Without it, responsible producers are at a disadvantage for refusing to compromise their values”.
duBreton operates four organic pork processing facilities, one of which is located in the United States.
Genus developed the PRRS-resistant pigs, which received approval in April. At the time, the company emphasized the importance of obtaining approval for the pigs in key U.S. export markets, such as Mexico, Canada, and Japan.
“The FDA approval is an exceptional achievement for Genus PIC and represents a major step toward commercialization in the U.S.”, said Jorgen Kokke, CEO of Genus. “We will continue to seek regulatory approvals in other international jurisdictions, with a particular focus on key U.S. export markets”.
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