Consumers can see whether their food contains genetically modified substances thanks to clear front-of-pack labelling.  

Why it's important

Food labels provide various types of information, such as origin, nutrition, portion sizes, etc. Such information is key as it helps consumers choose which foodstuffs they buy. 

For consumers, that means:

Labelling has been mandatory in the EU for:

• Products consisting of GMO;
• Products derived from, but no longer containing, GMO if there is still DNA or protein from the genetic modification present.

What BEUC did

In the late 1990s, we teamed up with our American colleagues to campaign on consumers having the choice whether or not to eat Genetically Modified (GM) food. Our clear demand was for the separate labelling of GM foods and ingredients. The battle was won and since 1997 and the rules' provisions were further strengthened in 1998 and 2000 when the labelling of GM maize, soya, additives and flavourings also became compulsory.