New report warns of coming unregulated, unlabelled gene-edited produce

The Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN) reports that there are now just three genetically engineered (genetically modified or GM) fruits and vegetables sold in Canadian grocery stores.(1) However, produce sections could quickly be confronted with more genetically modified organisms (GMOs) now that the federal government is exempting many new gene-edited foods from regulation.(2)

“Health Canada will not assess the safety of most new gene-edited foods,” said Lucy Sharratt of CBAN, “The federal government is not tracking these new genetically engineered foods, and the food industry is not providing this information to consumers.”

The three genetically engineered fresh fruits and vegetables on the market in Canada are GM sweet corn, GM papaya, and a GM pink-fleshed pineapple, but these products are not widely available. CBAN has confirmed that GM squash, which was grown in the United States and legal to import for food since 1998, has been discontinued for 2026. Genetic engineering in Canadian diets is still dominated by processed food ingredients – from GM corn, GM canola, GM soy and GM sugar beet.

Gene-edited whole foods would be the first genetically engineered foods eaten in Canada without safety assessments from Health Canada, and they can also be released onto the market without companies notifying Health Canada or the public.(3)

CBAN’s report warns that gene-edited mustard greens for salad mixes and gene-edited whole strawberries could soon be the first of these new, unregulated GMOs to enter the Canadian market. In June, CBAN reported that the market release of gene-edited salad greens was delayed.(4) Meanwhile, GM potatoes and GM apples that were approved for eating years ago are not yet sold in Canada.

“Mandatory labelling of all genetically engineered foods is urgently needed to help consumers in Canada know what’s happening in grocery stores,” said Sharratt.

A Parliamentary petition for mandatory labelling of genetically engineered foods is open for individuals to sign until 1:25 p.m. (EDT) on November 3, 2025.(5)

To read the report visit
https://cban.ca/wp-content/uploads/Gene-Edited-Fruits-and-Vegetables-Report-2025.pdf

Notes


(1) Canadian Biotechnology Action Network, Gene-edited Fruits and Vegetables: The Threat of New GMOs in Canada, October 1, 2025. https://cban.ca/wp-content/uploads/Gene-Edited-Fruits-and-Vegetables-Report-2025.pdf

(2) See www.cban.ca/NoExemptions 

(3) Canadian Biotechnology Action Network, Gene editing is new genetic engineering, August 2025.
 https://cban.ca/wp-content/uploads/Gene-editing-factsheet-E.pdf
(4) Canadian Biotechnology Action Network, No GMO Salad Update and Action Report, July 10, 2025.
 https://cban.ca/wp-content/uploads/No-GMO-Salad-Report-June-2025.pdf
(5) E-petition 6768: https://www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-6768