If there's one thing Americans can agree on, it's GMO labeling. A recent poll conducted by The Mellman Group reveals that 89% of respondents were in favor of mandatory labels on food items "which have been genetically engineered or containing genetically engineered ingredients be labeled to indicate that."
Only 6% of those polled voted against labels while another 6% 'didn't know.'
Not only that, the data shows that 77% of respondents 'strongly' favored required labelling of GMOs.
Respondents were also adamant that the labels and national info be printed right on the packaging with as opposed to being accessible via a scannable bar code or QR code.
88% said they prefer printed labels, while just 8% voted in favor of scannable codes. 79% of respondents were strongly in favor of the former.
This news comes right on the heels of the US Food and Drug Administration's declaration that genetically modified salmon was fit for public consumption. The fish, which was developed by a small company called AquaBounty Technologies, is the first genetically modified animal to be cleared for sale in supermarkets across America.
Much of the controversy surrounding this ruling was the FDA's decision to not require the AquaBounty Salmon to be labeled as genetically altered. It did however, provide a guideline of the proper wording companies must use when labeling the salmon says The New York Times.
Speaking with Consumerist, Consumer's Union Director of Food Policy Initiatives Jean Halloran said:
"Americans have yet again expressed an overwhelming desire to know what's in their food. Shoppers want to see clear labels on food packaging that tell them if products are made with genetically engineered ingredients without having to use confusing codes or smartphone apps. We hope lawmakers hear consumers' call for meaningful, mandatory national GMO labeling."
