British Public Supports EU Directive on GM Food
A new MORI poll released today demonstrates that the British public supports the EU initiative which would make it compulsory to label all food containing GM ingredients or derivatives. 76% said the labelling of all food with GM ingredients should be made compulsory.
The poll also reveals that public opposition to GM food is still widespread. MORI found that the number of people who believe the risks of GM food outweigh the benefits, outnumber supporters of the technology by two to one (39% vs 18% — with the remainder either undecided or feeling the risks / benefits are about the same).
Note
Existing EU regulations require the labelling of certain GM food products. This means that at present if a product contains more than 1% of GM material it must be labelled. The EU proposes to amend the regulations, extending the labelling scheme to include animal feed and all products containing and derived from GM ingredients. As such, for example, oil from GM soya beans would have to be labelled. If the US action succeeds, both the existing regulations and the proposed amendment could be threatened.
Topline Results
- 1,004 adults aged 15+
- Interviewed face-to-face in-home
- Between 18-22 April 2002.
- 193 sample points throughout Great Britain.
- An asterisk (*) indicates a percentage of less than 0.5% but greater than zero
- Data have been weighted to reflect the national profile
- Base all, unless otherwise stated
Q1 From what you know or have heard about GM food, on balance, which of these statements, if any, most closely reflects your own opinion?
| % | |
|---|---|
| The benefits of GM food far outweigh any risks | 6 |
| The benefits of GM food slightly outweigh any risks | 12 |
| The benefits and risks of GM food are about the same | 24 |
| The risks of GM food slightly outweigh any benefits | 19 |
| The risks of GM food far outweigh any benefits | 20 |
| Benefits outweigh the risks | 18 |
| Risks outweigh the benefits | 39 |
| Don't know | 19 |
Q2 Thinking now about eating GM food, or food containing GM ingredients. If you knew which food had GM ingredients and you had a choice of whether or not to eat it, which of these statements, if any, comes closest to your own opinion?
| % | |
|---|---|
| I would never eat GM food | 18 |
| I would prefer not to eat GM food | 33 |
| I don't mind whether or not I eat GM food | 40 |
| I would prefer to eat GM food | 2 |
| I would always eat GM food | 1 |
| Would not eat GM Food | 51 |
| Would eat GM Food | 3 |
| Don't know | 6 |
Q3 And if you knew which food had GM ingredients and you had a choice of whether or not to give it to the children in your household, which of these statements, if any, comes closest to your own opinion?
Base: All with children under 16 [341]
| % | |
|---|---|
| I would never give GM food to children in my household | 25 |
| I would prefer not to give GM food to children in my household | 30 |
| I don't mind whether or not children in my household eat GM food | 20 |
| I would prefer to give GM food to children in my household | 2 |
| I would always give GM food to children in my household | 0 |
| Would never give GM Food to children | 55 |
| Would give GM Food to children | 2 |
| Don't know | 23 |
Q4 Thinking now about the labelling of GM food products (that is the identification and explanation of the ingredients on the product's packaging), which, if any, of these statements comes closest to your own opinion?
| % | |
|---|---|
| It should be compulsory to identify all products with GM ingredients | 76 |
| It should only be compulsory to identify products with GM ingredients above a certain level, but not all GM products | 11 |
| It should not be compulsory to identify products with GM ingredients at all | 6 |
| Don't know | 7 |
(And) as you may know, the US Government feels that labelling of GM foods should not be compulsory, whilst the European Union is more supportive of GM food labelling being compulsory. The US Government has said that it may consider trade sanctions against the European Union if compulsory labelling is introduced.
Q5 Which one, if any, of the following statements comes closest to your own opinion on GM food labelling?
| % | |
|---|---|
| I strongly support the US Government in not making labelling compulsory | 3 |
| I tend to support the US Government in not making labelling compulsory | 3 |
| I have no preference either way | 20 |
| I tend to support the European Union in making labelling compulsory | 33 |
| I strongly support the European Union in making labelling compulsory | 34 |
| Support US | 6 |
| Support EU | 67 |
| Don't know | 7 |
(And) as you may know, the US Government feels that the European Union should grant licences for GM food more quickly, and has said that it may consider trade sanctions against the European Union if it does not grant licences more quickly.
Q6 Which one, if any, of the following statements comes closest to your own opinion on the licensing of GM food?
| % | |
|---|---|
| I strongly support the US Government in wishing GM foods to be licensed more quickly | 6 |
| I tend to support the US Government in wishing GM foods to be licensed more quickly | 7 |
| I have no preference either way | 28 |
| I tend to support the European Union in not wishing GM foods to be licensed more quickly | 24 |
| I strongly support the European Union in not wishing GM foods to be licensed more quickly | 26 |
| Support US | 13 |
| Support EU | 50 |
| Don't know | 8 |
