Public opinion polls consistently indicate that a large majority of Canadians are concerned about genetically modified material in their food and want mandatory labelling to alert them to its presence.
But science writer Peter Calamai, director of the newly formed Science Media Centre of Canada, says that is misleading.
Consumers do not think much about the GMO issue unless reminded about it by media or asked by public opinion pollsters, he told a recent conference on GMO issues.
It was organized by the Royal Society of Canada that published a report eight years ago critical of biotechnology regulation and the transparency of the system.
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Calamai, a long-time national science writer, said he is skeptical of polls that show consumer distrust of GMO products.
He said media coverage of biotechnology issues has declined in recent years and with the decline has come less consumer opposition.
“The less coverage, the less opposition,” he said Sept. 23.
Calamai said the public opinion polls on GMO labelling are skewed because most consumers do not have a well-developed view on the issue.
Still, when a pollster asks their opinion, they create one and it tends to be in favour of more information.
“But I don’t believe that is a key issue for most consumers,” said Calamai.
Two years ago, a voluntary GMO labelling rule was implemented in Canada after years of debate. It has had little impact on grocery store labelling.
Critics of the mandatory labelling campaign, including CropLife Canada, insist that “may contain” GMO labels are irrelevant because most processed food contains GM ingredients including corn, canola and soybeans.
Meanwhile, most Canadian farm lobby groups have opposed the idea of mandatory GMO labelling because they argue it implies that a GM designation means the product is less safe or healthy than non-GMO products.
They insist the assessment of product should be on its compliance with safety standards and not the process of its creation.
Jean-Franois Bach, a professor of immunology and secretary at l’Académie des Sciences in France, said the anti-GMO sentiment in France also is largely driven by media reporting that is negative or sensationalist.
“The media are key drivers,” he told the conference. “The worst is that what they want is controversy. They are not objective. There is a huge bias.”
There is a built-in consumer prejudice against GM products in Europe, he said.
