What happens when foods are labelled GM ?

This is from:

http://www.truefoodnow.org/inside_scoop/archives/010329-tf-beanfeast.html

Why is the U.S. keeping genetically engineered food a secret? U.S. food companies, with the support of the U.S. government, are in favor of keeping consumers in the dark about genetic engineering.

Although polls show that Americans overwhelmingly support mandatory labels on genetically engineered food, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has sided with the chemical companies that make genetically engineered foods against consumer and environmental protection concerns.

A recent example of food labeling in Europe sheds some light on what can happen when consumers are informed of what they are eating.

In an effort to promote the "benefits" of gene-altered food, one of Britain's largest food companies, Unilever, said in 1997 that it would voluntarily put labels that said "genetically modified ingredients" on one of its products.

In 1998, the labels appeared on its Beanfeast, a meat-alternative.

Greenpeace contacted 250,000 consumers and pointed out the labels. Instead of seeing a benefit in the gene-altered food, thousands wrote to the company to protest its use.

Unilever's plan had backfired. In August 1998, Unilever withdrew the labels, but continued to use genetically engineered ingredients in Beanfeast.

However, the damage had been done. In 1999, after sales of Beanfeast dropped by over 50%, Unilever announced it would remove genetically engineered ingredients from all its products in Britain, beginning with Beanfeast. Shortly after, Nestle and other major U.K. food companies announced they would no longer use genetically engineered ingredients.

Don't let government agencies or food companies make decisions for you. Demand that they label genetically engineered food so that you can make informed food choices.

Good News! The FDA has extended the comment period on food labeling until May 3rd. Make sure they hear from you -- sign petition:

http://www.truefoodnow.org/listmanager/takeaction.pl?action_id=29