q       Cheaper?

q       More nutritious?

q       Better for health?

q       Better for the environment?

q       Less risky?

GM foods are not generally considered cheaper than conventional foods, nor are they more nutritious. To date, commercialised GM crops have been genetically modified to provide benefits to farmers, not consumers. The lack of benefits from GM foods and the unknown environmental and health risks associated with GM foods are the reasons why European consumers have rejected them. Consumer confidence in GM food will only be restored when governments tighten and enforce regulations which protect the environment and when independent, peer-reviewed health studies are carried out to examine the medium and long term effects of GM food on human health.

In the meantime, consumer groups are calling on governments to make GM food labelling a first priority, thus protecting consumer rights to freedom of choice.