Half in Britain still against GM foods
10 May 2002
Half in Britain still against GM foods
MORE than half of British consumers would still avoid eating genetically modified food, according to a survey commissioned by Greenpeace.
Opposition to GM food is still widespread, despite claims that objections to the technology are fading, found the research which was carried out by MORI in April.
The survey of over 1000 adults showed, given the choice, 51% would avoid eating GM food, although 40% did not mind and 3% would prefer to eat it.
The poll was commissioned in response to threats from the US that it will launch a trade war over European plans to label all GM food.
GM campaigner Charlie Kronnick said consumers wanted their rights to be defended if the US tried to overturn plans to make labelling compulsory for all GM food.
"Tony Blair has a choice. He can defend US corporations or he can defend British people," he said.
"The Prime Minister should stand up to George Bush and protect the rights of British consumers and our environment."
On the subject of labelling, 76% said they backed the European position that consumers should be told whether products contain GM ingredients. Only 6% of respondents claimed that labelling should not be compulsory.
But according to 39% of those asked, the possible risks outweighed the potential benefits of the technology. Only 18% thought the opposite and another 24% thought the benefits and risks were about the same. *