Biotech industry launches website, Food & Water Watch responds
July 29, 2013 | 03:54 PM
The biotech industry has launched a website, GMOAnswers.com, as a way for consumers to get fast information on genetic modification.
But Food & Water Watch, a consumer group, said in a news release today that the site is “a marketing tactic” and that it will continue its campaigns for the labeling of products containing GMO ingredients.
GMO Answers is produced by the members of The Council for Biotechnology Information, which includes BASF, Bayer CropScience, Dow AgroSciences LLC, DuPont, Monsanto Company and Syngenta.
“GMOs are a growing topic of discussion today, with a wide range of questions and emotions,” Cathleen Enright, the executive vice president of the Biotechnology Industry Organization and spokesperson for GMO Answers, said.
“Food is personal, so we want to open the door for personal discussions,” she said. “We recognize we haven’t done the best job communicating about GMOs — what they are, how they are developed, food safety information — the science, data and processes. We want people to join us and ask their tough questions. Be skeptical. Evaluate the information and decide for yourself. We look forward to an open conversation.”
The biotechnology companies “spend millions in marketing and lobbying against popular GMO labeling efforts,” Wenonah Hauter, executive director of Food & Water Watch said in a news release.
“Their control of patents has prevented research from being done on the long-term impacts of biotech crops and food products. This latest public relations blitz is just more of the same from an industry that is struggling to combat popular sentiment that genetically engineered foods are unlabeled, untested and unsafe.”
But Food & Water Watch, a consumer group, said in a news release today that the site is “a marketing tactic” and that it will continue its campaigns for the labeling of products containing GMO ingredients.
GMO Answers is produced by the members of The Council for Biotechnology Information, which includes BASF, Bayer CropScience, Dow AgroSciences LLC, DuPont, Monsanto Company and Syngenta.
“GMOs are a growing topic of discussion today, with a wide range of questions and emotions,” Cathleen Enright, the executive vice president of the Biotechnology Industry Organization and spokesperson for GMO Answers, said.
“Food is personal, so we want to open the door for personal discussions,” she said. “We recognize we haven’t done the best job communicating about GMOs — what they are, how they are developed, food safety information — the science, data and processes. We want people to join us and ask their tough questions. Be skeptical. Evaluate the information and decide for yourself. We look forward to an open conversation.”
The biotechnology companies “spend millions in marketing and lobbying against popular GMO labeling efforts,” Wenonah Hauter, executive director of Food & Water Watch said in a news release.
“Their control of patents has prevented research from being done on the long-term impacts of biotech crops and food products. This latest public relations blitz is just more of the same from an industry that is struggling to combat popular sentiment that genetically engineered foods are unlabeled, untested and unsafe.”
