Label biotech foods

The survey, conducted in four different areas of the country with people representative of the United States population, was designed to help FDA gauge consumer attitudes about and knowledge of biotech foods. FDA learned that general awareness is high but specific knowledge low. However, a lack of knowledge didn’t deter consumers from having well developed opinions. The biggest concern is unknown long-term health consequences, though consumers readily accepted the short-term safety of biotech foods. Initially, consumers were satisfied with labeling that merely disclosed that the food or its ingredients were products of biotechnology. But when given a range of labeling options, many saw value in disclosure plus a statement indicating the effect or purpose of the biotechnology (such as “genetically modified to increase Vitamin A content”). They rejected warning-type labeling. Consumers viewed GM-free claims as more promotional, but expected such claims to be accurate. To them, GM-free meant zero bioengineered ingredients, not some small threshold level.