Skip to main content
HR 1699 113th Congress House

Genetically Engineered Food Right-to-Know Act

Official title: To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require that genetically engineered food and foods that contains genetically engineered ingredients be labeled accordingly.

Introduced: April 24, 2013 See on congress.gov
Health Administrative law and regulatory proceduresCivil actions and liabilityDepartment of Health and Human ServicesFood supply, safety, and labeling
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Fraud offenses and financial crimesGeneticsImmunology and vaccination
This bill died when the 113th Congress ended
It never became law before the 113th Congress (2013–2014) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Apr 26, 2013
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Apr 24, 2013
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Apr 24, 2013
Introduced in House
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Latest action April 26, 2013

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Genetically Engineered Food Right-to-Know Act - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to deem misbranded any food that has been genetically engineered or contains one or more genetically engineered ingredients, unless such information is clearly disclosed.

Exempts from this requirement any food that: (1) is served in restaurants or other similar eating establishments, (2) is a medical food, (3) would be subject to such requirement solely because it was produced using a genetically engineered vaccine, or (4) would be subject to such requirement solely because it includes the use of a genetically engineered processing aid (including yeast) or enzyme.

Defines "genetically engineered" as a material intended for human consumption that is: (1) an organism produced through the intentional use of genetic engineering, or (2) the progeny of intended sexual or asexual reproduction (or both) of one or more organisms that is the product of genetic engineering.

Defines "genetically engineered ingredient" as an ingredient in a food that is derived from any part of an organism that has been genetically engineered, without regard to whether: (1) the altered molecular or cellular characteristics of the organism are detectable in the material, and (2) the organism is capable for use as human food.

Excludes from penalties for misbranding of genetically engineered food or ingredients any recipient that establishes a guaranty or undertaking that: (1) is signed by, and contains the name and address of, a person residing in the United States from whom the recipient received the food in good faith (including the receipt of seeds to grow raw agricultural commodities); and (2) contains a statement to the effect that the food is not genetically engineered or does not contain a genetically engineered ingredient.

Applies this exclusion from penalties without regard to the manner in which the recipient uses the food.

Excludes an agricultural producer also from such penalties when a violation occurs because food the producer has grown, raised, or otherwise produced, which neither contains nor was produced with a genetically engineered material, is subsequently contaminated with a food that does contain or was produced with a genetically engineered material, and the agricultural producer has not intended any such contamination nor was negligent in the matter.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 43
D
Kaptur, Marcy
Ohio · Nov 12, 2014
Grayson, Alan
· Jul 23, 2014
D
Smith, Adam
Washington · Jul 23, 2014
D
Wilson, Frederica S.
Florida · Jun 17, 2014
FATTAH, CHAKA
· May 20, 2014
D
Doggett, Lloyd
Texas · Apr 29, 2014
GUTIERREZ, LUIS
· Apr 29, 2014
LEWIS, JOHN
· Apr 29, 2014
TIERNEY, JOHN
· Apr 29, 2014
D
Cohen, Steve
Tennessee · Apr 10, 2014
D
Sherman, Brad
California · Jan 8, 2014
ANDREWS, ROBERT
· Nov 15, 2013
D
DeLauro, Rosa L.
Connecticut · Nov 15, 2013
D
Takano, Mark
California · Nov 15, 2013
D
Beatty, Joyce
Ohio · Sep 19, 2013
Bordallo, Madeleine
· Sep 19, 2013
D
Clarke, Yvette D.
New York · Sep 19, 2013
D
Waters, Maxine
California · Jul 30, 2013
D
McGovern, James P.
Massachusetts · Jul 8, 2013
D
Himes, James A.
Connecticut · Jun 27, 2013
O'Rourke, Beto
· Jun 27, 2013
Ellison, Keith
· Jun 12, 2013
LOWEY, NITA
· Jun 12, 2013
D
Titus, Dina
Nevada · Jun 3, 2013
Edwards, Donna
· May 22, 2013
D
Chu, Judy
California · May 14, 2013
Michaud, Michael
· May 14, 2013
D
Schiff, Adam B.
California · May 9, 2013
Shea-Porter, Carol
· May 8, 2013
HOLT, RUSH
· May 6, 2013
D
Lofgren, Zoe
California · May 6, 2013
CHRISTENSEN, DONNA
· Apr 24, 2013
Gabbard, Tulsi
· Apr 24, 2013
D
Huffman, Jared
California · Apr 24, 2013
MCDERMOTT, JIM
· Apr 24, 2013
MORAN, JAMES
· Apr 24, 2013
D
Nadler, Jerrold
New York · Apr 24, 2013
D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · Apr 24, 2013
D
Pingree, Chellie
Maine · Apr 24, 2013
Polis, Jared
· Apr 24, 2013
D
Schakowsky, Janice D.
Illinois · Apr 24, 2013
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE
· Apr 24, 2013
D
Welch, Peter
Vermont · Apr 24, 2013
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1699: Genetically Engineered Food Right-to-Know Act. 113th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-1699/
MLA
"H.R. 1699: Genetically Engineered Food Right-to-Know Act." 113th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-1699/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1699, 113th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-1699/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1699: Genetically Engineered Food Right-to-Know Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-1699/)
Report a problem