Some devastating stuff here for an industry that claims the US public has no concerns about consuming GM crops:

"A new ABCNEWS poll found that a third of Americans try to avoid buying foods that have been genetically modified or treated with antibiotics or hormones, and that resistance apparently would swell if such products were required to be labeled.

Other research shows consumers' concerns change as different issues come into the spotlight. Some 30 percent of shoppers surveyed by the Food Marketing Institute in 2003 said that food produced by biotechnology posed a "serious health risk," compared to just 15 percent in 1997.

Another recent study, from the Pew Research Center, also found that 55 percent of Americans think genetically modified foods are a "bad thing." 
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Feeding Frenzy
Sensing Consumer Concern, Some Companies Rethink the Food Supply
By Catherine Valenti
ABCNews.com [shortened]
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/business/Living/foodorigins_030715.html

July 15 - Would you pay more to know that your meat was raised in the United States? Are you concerned about the conditions in which animals are kept while they're being raised for slaughter? Do you care if your meat has antibiotics in it or if your food contains genetically modified ingredients?

If so, you're one of many consumers who are affecting the way food is manufactured and labeled in the United States.

At a time when a lot of attention is being paid to issues like food safety, mad cow disease and genetically modified foods, many companies and the government are responding to both consumers' and activists' concerns about the food supply.

"We'd always say give the consumer as much information as you can and he's free to ignore it and free to make whatever decision he's going to make," says Art Jaeger, associate director of the Consumer Federation of America, a Washington-based consumer advocacy group.

Changes in the Air

Recent moves include fast-food giant McDonald's calling on its meat suppliers to phase out the use of growth-promoting antibiotics in its meat, a decision that will likely change the use of antibiotics in animals since the chain is one of the world's largest purchasers of meat.

In response to growing concerns about the way animals are raised, KFC announced changes to its animal welfare policy at the end of May that included guidelines for more humane slaughter and handling of its suppliers' chickens.

And next year shoppers in supermarkets might even be able to choose which country their meat comes from. A new country-of-origin labeling regulation is expected to go into effect in September of 2004. It will require a label showing the country of origin on beef, lamb, pork, fish, produce and peanuts sold in the United States. The meatpacking and retailing industries are vigorously fighting the new regulations, which were part of the 2002 farm bill.

Experts say these moves appeal in part to consumers' desire for more information about where their food is coming from, but also to activists' efforts to change some of the ways food - and especially meat - is prepared in this country.

"There's a growing trend that consumers in general are more concerned about what happens beyond the four walls of our restaurant," says Bob Langert, senior director of social responsibility for McDonald's in Oak Brook, Ill.

Concern About Consumables

Some recent polls highlight consumers' growing concerns.

A new ABCNEWS poll found that a third of Americans try to avoid buying foods that have been genetically modified or treated with antibiotics or hormones, and that resistance apparently would swell if such products were required to be labeled.

Other research shows consumers' concerns change as different issues come into the spotlight. Some 30 percent of shoppers surveyed by the Food Marketing Institute in 2003 said that food produced by biotechnology posed a "serious health risk," compared to just 15 percent in 1997.

For the past two years, consumers' top health concern has been bacteria.
Another recent study, from the Pew Research Center, also found that 55 percent of Americans think genetically modified foods are a "bad thing."

Genetically modified foods, which are biologically altered to have characteristics such as faster growth or insect resistance, are widely used in the United States. But their use has been controversial in Europe, where consumers fear unknown health effects and commonly deride them as "Frankenfood." The European Union has banned the importing of any genetically modified foods from the United States.

Groups like the Consumer Federation of America support labeling genetically modified foods, which is currently not done in the United States.

"For a variety of reasons, consumers may want to avoid [genetically modified foods]," says the Consumer Federation's Jaeger. "Without labeling they can't make an informed decision."
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The UK's GM Public Debate finishes this Friday, 18th July, so if anyone has yet to take part please go to:

http://www.gmnation.org.uk

If anyone still has a feedback form, these too have to be filled in and returned by Friday.

Your views are important!

Thank you
Munlochy GM Vigil