GM is unwanted

Polls regularly show the public does not want GM food or crops, and that they do want better information to help them avoid it.

• In 2010 the Food Standards Agency’s Consumer Attitudes Tracker Survey showed public concern about GM food rose to 21%, up from 19% in March 2010.
• In 2010 the Eurobarometer poll showed 45% of UK respondents were opposed to developing the technology (61% oppose it across the EU, with 95% rating GM foods as potentially unsafe and lacking real benefits).
• In January 2013 FSA research showed around two thirds of people want all uses of GM products in food to be labelled to uphold their right to know and to enable them to avoid GM if they wish.

If you want to buy non-GM fed meat, milk and eggs, check our list of which supermarkets to use.

Animal feed rejected

89% of shoppers want labels on food from GM-fed animals.

The results of our 2010 new GfK/NOP poll showed concern among shoppers remains high and they want more information to help them avoid GM right through the food chain. We found:

• Fewer than 40% of shoppers were aware that GM is currently creeping onto their plates via imported GM animal feed being fed to animals in British factory farms.
• While there is currently no requirement for retailers to identify animal products containing GM to consumers, 89% of those surveyed wanted these products to be clearly labelled.
• 72% would pay extra for non-GM food.

Summary of GfK/NOP Opinion Survey on GM-fed labels

Carried out for GM Freeze and Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland

Fieldwork 4-6 June 2010 based on 1000 interviews.

Results from previous poll in 2006 in ( ) where available.

Q.1 Which supermarket, if any, do you do your main grocery shopping at? If you do not use a supermarket for your main shop, please say so.

*only 3 responses <1%

Q.2 I am now going to read out a statement, and I would like you to tell me whether you think this is true,or not. ‘Most of the animal products, such as milk, dairy, eggs, meat or fish products that are sold in Britain, come from animals that have been fed on a diet containing gm (genetically modified) ingredients’. Do you think this is true or false?

Q.3 Which of the following options would you yourself prefer?

To eat or buy animal products (like milk, dairy, eggs, meat or fish) derived from animals fed on a GM diet

To eat or buy animal products (like milk, dairy, eggs, meat or fish) derived from animals fed on a non-GM diet

No preference/no interest

Don’t know

Q.4 Thinking about the supermarket where you do your main shop, would you prefer that they only supply animal products such as milk, dairy, eggs, meat or fish that have come from animals fed on a totally GM free diet, or do you think it is OK if their diet contains GM ingredients?

Totally GM free diet           

Contain GM ingredients           

No preference/ of no interest           

Don’t know           

*= zero responses

**= 2  responses <1%

Q.5 Do you think food products which are derived from animals fed on a diet including GM ingredients, should be clearly labelled as such, or not?

Yes                                    No                                    Don’t know/No opinion           

Q.6 Would you be willing to pay 2p per kilo or 0.5p per litre more to ensure that you are able to eat or buy meat and dairy, fed on a non-gm diet?

Yes                                    No                                    Don’t know/No opinion