FED:All food may be labelled as containing GM

AAP General News (Australia)
04-18-2011
FED:All food may be labelled as containing GM

CANBERRA, April 18 AAP - A proposal to require food labelling of even tiny quantities
of genetically-modified (GM) ingredients would result in all foods being labelled as possibly
containing GM material, an industry body says.

Matthew Cossey, chief executive of the pro-GM plant science organisation CropLife,
said companies would do that to limit liability for possibly breaching labelling laws.

He said testing was sufficiently advanced to show up even tiny quantities of GM material in food.

"I would think you would nearly get to the safe position that they simply put on the
label on everything that this may contain GM material to ensure that they don't expose
themselves to any action," he told a parliamentary committee.

Greens' senator Rachel Siewert suggested this was an admission that GM material was
right through the food supply chain.

"That's what you are arguing," she said.

Mr Cossey agreed, but he added that GM material hadn't entered the food supply chain
until it was proven to be safe.

He said CropLife believed there was no need for the mandatory labelling of GM food ingredients.

CropLife said one industry survey of 1200 Australians conducted in 2007 indicated only
2.9 per were worried about GM safety, with far greater concern shown for safety of fresh
vegetables and meat.

People were most concerned about fat, sugar, fat and salt content and use-by date with
GM content ranking at 16th.

The Senate community affairs legislation committee is considering a bill, proposed
by Senator Siewert and independent senator Nick Xenophon, which would require development
of a standard for the labelling of genetically-modified material, irrespective of the
amount or how it came to be present.

Current food labelling laws do not require label disclosure of GM content of less than
one per cent.

Greenpeace GM campaigner Claire Parfitt said Greenpeace backed stronger labelling of
GM content so people were aware when their food contained GM material or products derived
from GM material.

She said a Greenpeace survey in 2009 indicated 90 per cent wanted to know if their
food contained GM materials.

"This bill goes to that objective. People will in fact know if their food contains
ingredients which are derived from GM processes," she said.

AAP mb/sb/ajw

KEYWORD: LABELLING

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