George: GMO Labeling Best for Food Industry

When it comes to letting people know if a food product has genetically modified ingredients, “Anywhere from 2/3 to 95% of consumers want the information," according to Jeff George, a research and development official with the Campbell's Soup Company.

He said consumers are going to get the information.  The agriculture department has just put out for public comment its proposed rules on GMO foods labels.  The package presents several possible ways to decide what foods would be covered, and how the information would be conveyed, so Agriculture Secretary Sonny Purdue says there's now a 60-day timeframe  for people to comment and share their ideas.

Once the labels go into effect, how will consumers react?  George said he doubts there will be a massive boycott of GMO foods. He cited a recent survey.

"Only about one in four consumers can actually even think of one product that they've stopped using because it had GMOs, or started using because it was GMO free. "

The Campbell's Soup Company has taken the position that GMOs are safe.

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