Consumers Reject GM Foods: Poll

"Consumers Reject GM Foods: Poll"

Ottawa Citizen
p. A8
April 1, 2000

An Environics poll released Friday was cited as saying that most Canadians say they would prefer to buy non-genetically modified foods, even if they were slightly more expensive.

The story notes that the poll was conducted for the Council of Canadians, which is holding information pickets with other activist groups at Loblaw's stores in 35 communities across Canada Saturday. Among the poll's findings:

Seventy-five per cent worry about the safety of genetically modified foods.
Ninety-five per cent say consumers should be able to buy food that is not genetically modified.
Ninety-five per cent believe genetically modified foods should always be labelled as such.
Fifty-six per cent lack confidence in the government's ability to protect the safety and health of Canadians when it comes to GM foods.

Jennifer Story, a health protection campaigner with the Council of Canadians, was quoted as saying, ``The results of this poll show there's a growing consumer revolt brewing against genetically engineered foods. As the country's biggest grocery chain, Loblaw's has an obligation to protect consumers by removing foods that have not been proven safe or, at least, to only carry foods that are clearly labelled as containing genetically engineered ingredients.''
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Last Updated on 4/5/00
By Rachel C. Benbrook
Email: karen@biotech-info.net