Soil Association comment: FSA report - “GM Labelling: exploring public responses to the labelling of GM food and the use of GM-free labelling”

09 January 2013

A report from the Food Standards Agency has delivered a major blow to Owen Paterson’s GM food labelling policy. The report reveals “67% of the public think it is important (very or quite) to write on the label if the food product e.g. meat, egg, milk, is from animals that have been fed from genetically modified plants.” 1 

This comes just weeks after the Defra Secretary of State claimed “There isn’t a single piece of meat being served [in a typical London restaurant] where a bullock hasn’t eaten some GM feed.” 2

Peter Melchett, policy director at the Soil Association said; “This is a major blow to Owen Paterson’s GM food labelling policy. The FSA figures show a large majority of consumers believe GM food labelling is important. For a number of years the Soil Association has been calling for accurate labelling on all food from animals fed on GM feed. Consumers in Europe are able to make more informed choices and we want British supermarkets to follow the lead of the second largest supermarket in the world, Carrefour, which labels all produce from animals not fed on GM. Currently in the UK, the only way to be completely sure you avoid eating GM is to eat organic. The government should take note of public opinion and consumers should vote with their feet and demand the right to make an informed choice.”

References
1- http://www.food.gov.uk/science/research/ssres/
2 - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9733589/Food-minister-Owen-Paterson-backs-GM-crops.html