Most products bought for a consumer survey and containing genetically modified ingredients were inaccurately labelled, claiming to be either "GM-free" or "organic", writes Joe Humphreys
Of 75 food products selected at random from supermarkets by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI), 12 tested positive for GM ingredients, and seven of these were wrongly labelled.
The rate of mislabelling represents an increase on January 2002, when six of 18 products which tested positive for GM ingredients were wrongly said to be free from them.
Dr Pat O'Mahony, the FSAI's chief specialist in biotechnology, said there was "no justification" for inaccurately labelling a food GM-free. "Industry is entitled to use legitimate strategies, such as labelling, to gain a market advantage, but responsibility for the accuracy of these labels rests solely with them."
He said he was particularly concerned at the fact that three of the manufacturers were "repeat offenders". Another two had been aware of GM ingredients in their products, but thought they would be diluted in the manufacturing process.
All of the products were below the threshold of 1 per cent GM content, which triggers a requirement for labelling as a GM food. However, five of those with traces of GM ingredients indicated they were GM-free. One had an organic label, while the seventh was labelled both organic and GM-free.
The FSAI noted EU legislation required that food labels must not mislead the public on the composition or production methods of a food, or make false claims as to its properties.
No company has yet been prosecuted for mislabelling foods as GM free. However, Dr O'Mahony said this could change as the authority planned to liaise with the Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs on future surveys with a view to enforcement.