The vast majority of European consumers want food labels to indicate whether genetically modified ingredients are present, but the industry is opposed to this.
According to a recent report by the opinion research institute Ipsos, a large majority of consumers advocate for mandatory labeling on food products containing genetically modified crops, but the food industry claims this is practically nearly impossible.
The report comes amid a heated debate in EU countries about the future of genetic engineering, following a 2018 ruling by the European Court of Justice which established that GMO crops in principle fall under the EU's GMO directive. That 2018 ruling has been heavily contested since then.
EU legislation stipulates that genetically modified food must be clearly labeled on the packaging indicating “genetically modified” ingredients, while unpackaged products require notification at the point of sale. However, products from animals that have been fed genetically modified feed are still exempt. This exemption would also need to be addressed going forward.
The report, commissioned by the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament, surveyed thousands of consumers earlier this year across all 27 EU countries. The questionnaire included both “conventional” genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and gene-edited (GE) crops using new techniques such as CRISPR.
It showed that 86% of those familiar with the technology want food containing GMOs to be labeled accordingly. The Greens argue that customers should have the choice, and that labels should clearly state whether genetic modification is present or not.
The European Commission is currently finalizing a study on food labeling at the request of the 27 agriculture ministers. This study is expected to be published by the end of April.