Bioengineered food refers to food that contains genetic material modified through specific laboratory techniques that cannot be achieved by conventional breeding or found naturally. This means the food's DNA has been altered using biotechnology methods such as gene insertion from unrelated species to give the food new traits, like herbicide resistance or improved yield

. In the U.S., the term "bioengineered" is used by the government as a regulatory label equivalent to genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Under the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard effective since January 1, 2022, foods containing detectable modified genetic material from bioengineering must disclose this on their packaging. However, some highly refined ingredients or products without detectable modified DNA are exempt from labeling

. The label "bioengineered" or "contains a bioengineered food ingredient" appears on packaging to inform consumers that the product includes ingredients derived from genetically engineered crops such as corn, soybeans, or canola. The label does not imply anything about the food's safety, health, or environmental impact compared to non-bioengineered foods

. In summary, bioengineered food is essentially genetically modified food defined by the presence of lab-altered genetic material that cannot be produced by traditional breeding, with a government-mandated label to disclose such ingredients in certain foods