A House of Lords select committee said recently that labelling was unnecessary, food giants have been very nervous about the idea. Food irradiation was killed stone dead as a process once labelling was compulsory. The same could happen to gene foods. Now the Co-op has taken the lead others are sure to follow. No big food retailer will want to risk a boycott.
Many people are worried about food safety.
Others are worried about animal welfare. New superbreeds can be unhealthy, almost designed to suffer. Meat lovers may find it distasteful to think they are eating human genes with their salad or pork chops. A number may also have religious objections. Consumers have a right to know, but labelling may well lead to an effective ban of some foods which are safe and uncontroversial.