Environmental Group Praises New EU Labels on GM Food

Friends of the Earth Germany sent out mixed signals on Tuesday as it praised EU requirements to label genetically modified foods from April 18 while criticizing loopholes in the rules. New labeling guidelines for food packaging and menus would enable consumers to recognize and, if they wanted, avoid GM food, the environmental group said. But, it pointed out, some foods, including milk, cheese, yogurt, meat and eggs from animals fed GM feed, will not have to be labeled. Between 80 and 90 percent of GM plants worldwide are used for animal feed, the organization said.