Why consumers
want GMO derivatives to be labelled
We particularly support one of the key aims of the Commission proposal
on GMO food and feed, which is to ensure that ingredients derived
from GMOs such as oils are labelled. These products make up a very
large part of most consumers’ diets, but might not contain
GMO derived protein or DNA any longer following technological treatment,
and are therefore currently not labelled. Consumers will assume
that these unlabelled foods are not produced from GMOs. This is
very misleading, and urgently needs to be addressed. Even though
tests of the final products would not be able to indicate whether
or not these products were produced from GMOs, testing of the raw
materials backed-up by proper documentation will.
Consumers do not want to know whether it is possible to still find
GMO protein or DNA, but how the product has been produced. This
directly influences choice.
Failure to develop an effective labelling strategy, which takes
due account of these derivatives, would eliminate consumer choice
and result in more consumer negativity towards genetically modified
products. Consumers want food and ingredients produced from GMOs
to be labelled irrespective of the amount/or if GM material (is
still) contained.
An effective labelling strategy for foods containing genetically
modified ingredients is not possible unless accurate traceability
mechanisms are developed to identify where such ingredients actually
can be found in the food chain. This includes paper documentation,
where scientific tests can no longer identify whether GMO derived
protein or DNA is still present.
BEUC therefore fully supports the Commission proposals with respect
to traceability of both GM food and feed. |
