People do not just need food to survive - they need food that is good for them. Food is different from other consumer products. It is something we literally take inside ourselves, it is a daily necessity for growth and life, and it is bound up in our cultures, social activities and traditions. People care about what they eat. People, as consumers, have a fundamental right to know about the food they eat and that it is safe.
Consumers have a right to know if their food is genetically engineered.
Labelling genetically engineered food is essential for safety and to give the right to choose. Many governments recognise this. The countries of the European Union have introduced regulations requiring labelling of all genetically engineered food. In the United States, where genetically engineered corn, soybeans and potatoes are being grown commercially, repeated public opinion surveys show consumers overwhelmingly want labelling. However the US government has failed to require it.