USA: Parents want labels on GE food

A vast majority of American parents want the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to require labeling for foods that have been genetically engineered or contain genetically engineered ingredients, according to newly released results from a national poll conducted by the Just Label It (JLI) coalition. 90 % of mothers and 88 % of fathers are in favor of labeling GE foods, according to the survey conducted by the Mellman Group. Additionally, knowing whether the food they purchase and serve their families contains GE ingredients is important to 85 % of mothers and 80 % of fathers.
 

In an effort to engage more parents on this issue, Just Label It has also launched a new parenting page on its website that includes a petition to the FDA to label GE foods, a “Letter to Parents” from AllergyKids founder and JLI member, Robyn O’Brien, and information about how to avoid GE foods. The petition asks parents to join the one million other Americans who have already expressed their support for labeling so that they will be able to know about the food they feed their children, the Dewey Square Group reports.
 

Gary Hirshberg, Just Label It Chairman and Chairman and Co-Founder of Stonyfield, said parents’ concerns about their children’s food have intensified following controversies involving pink slime, corn resistant to the toxic 2,4-D herbicide, and apples genetically engineered to prevent browning and that they are calling on the USA to join the 40 other developed nations that require labeling of GE foods.
 

Just Label It is a national coalition in the USA of more than 540 diverse organizations dedicated to the mandatory labeling of GE foods. Their message is simple: consumers have a right to know about food so it is possible to make informed choices. The poll’s results and the petition are available here: www.justlabelit.org.