Consumers unaware of GM foods
Australians are unwittingly buying genetically modified food because of lax labelling laws according to a report released by Choice last week.
The consumer advocacy group says that supermarkets are full of foods that contain GM ingredients.
Cereals, breads, sauces and snack foods contain ingredients like eggs and dairy from animals that may have been fed on GM feed, and the laws mean companies are not required to disclose this information.
CHOICE Senior Campaigner Clare Hughes said that even conscientious consumers are unaware that ingredients imported from the USA are mostly genetically modified. Ms Hughes added that the labelling laws should include disclosure of any GM ingredients. “You have a right to know if your food comes from GM crops or GM fed animals, directly or indirectly.”
Research concluding that GM food is of little or no harm is conducted by the companies that produce GM crops, CHOICE says. Environmental and ethical issues are also a factor in whether a consumer purchases a GM product.
The Federal Government is currently in the process of reviewing Australia’s food labelling laws.
Diana said,
April 6, 2010 at 6:08 am
This is a pretty good effort, but I htink your lead needs to say WHY they are buying GM foods without realising.
To this end, the seocnd para is a bit wordy…and you don’t need to repat the info about the lax laws int he thrird para.
Perhaps a re-worded lead could be somethign like:
“Lax food labelling laws mean Australians are unwittingly buying GM foods, according to a report released by Choice last week”.