ABC Finds Most Americans Reject GE Foods

Poll: Most in U.S. Would Shun Labeled Biotech Foods
7/15/03

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - More than half of American adults surveyed said they would be less likely to buy a food product at the grocery store if it carried a label saying it contained gene-altered ingredients, according to an ABC News poll released on Tuesday.

The survey of 1,024 adults also found that 92 percent said the federal government should require labels on biotech foods.

U.S. food makers and the Bush administration oppose special labels on genetically modified foods, contending they meet the same safety and nutrition standards as conventional foods. However, the European Parliament earlier this month passed laws to require labels on biotech foods, reflecting the concerns of many Europeans about long-term health and environmental impacts.

The ABC News poll said that 55 percent of Americans surveyed said they would avoid foods carrying a biotech label. However, that survey response rose to 62 percent among women, who do most of the food shopping for U.S. families.

The survey, however, also found a gain in the number of Americans who believe biotech foods are safe to eat. Some 46 percent said they considered bioengineered food safe, up from 35 percent in a similar poll conducted in June 2001, ABC News said.

About 80 percent of the U.S. soybean crop and 40 percent of the corn crop are genetically modified varieties.

The telephone poll was conducted last week with a random national sample of adults. The results have a three-percentage-point margin for error, ABC News said.

The European regulations, which will require the food industry to segregate biotech crops from conventional ones, will not go into effect for several months.