20 September 2001 Consumers slam watchdog over GMs By FWi staff SAFETY watchdogs have let consumers down over the issue of labelling genetically-modified food, claims the Consumers' Association. The Food Standards Agency voted to maintain the current rules, and introduce a "GM-free" label after a public discussion on Wednesday (19 September). But the Consumers' Association said it was concerned that the move would not provide as much useful information as European Commission proposals. The proposals would cover the approval, labeling and traceability of GM foods as well as threshold levels for contamination of food by GM crops. National Consumer Council chairwoman Deirdre Hutton said she was amazed the agency decided not to support the extension of GM labelling to derivatives. "It flies in the face of what we know consumers want," she said. "Only last month we polled 2000 adults about GM labelling. Ms Hutton said more than half of those questioned said they would still want to know specifically about GM derivatives in the food they eat.