Shoppers do not avoid GM labels

EUROPEANS who said they would not buy GM-labelled goods did not actively avoid them when they became available in supermarkets.

“Responses given by consumers when prompted by questionnaires about GM foods are not a reliable guide to what they do when shopping in grocery stores,” was the conclusion of Kings College London researchers.

Most of the labelled GM foods on sale were oils from GM soy, sold as cooking oil or incorporated into other products like margarine.