(OTTAWA) A United Nations body meeting in Ottawa today could deny consumers the right to know whether or not they are eating genetically engineered food. An international grouping of NGOs, including the Council of Canadians, Greenpeace and Consumers International, called on governments to resist industry pressure to avoid labeling foods created or altered in a laboratory.

The Codex Alimentarius Commission sets international standards for food, including labeling. The important Codex committee on food labeling, meeting in Ottawa, could reject proposals to label genetically altered foods. These products would then appear unlabelled on food store shelves around the world.

"Corporations are combining the genes of Brazil nuts and soybeans, of fish and tomatoes; they are creating foods that look the same but carry unknown dangers," said Peter Bleyer, Executive Director of the Council of Canadians. "By opposing an international labeling requirement for genetically engineered foods, our government may be putting the health of Canadians at risk."

Both Canada and the U.S. oppose the mandatory labeling of all foods produced using genetic engineering. There is intense pressure from the food industry to avoid a labeling requirement. In fact, Canada’s delegation to this week’s meeting includes representatives from Nestle, Kellogg, Kraft, Monsanto and other industry giants.

Studies around the world have shown that consumers want special labeling on genetically engineered food. According to Julian Edwards, Director General of Consumers International, this is a major issue of food safety and consumer choice: "Millions of people want this information for important health, religious, ethical or environmental reasons." According to a 1994 Optima poll, over 80% of Canadians want labeling on genetically engineered foods.

The World Trade Organization defers to the Codex Alimentarius standards in regulating food trade disputes. Countries that require labeling above the Codex standards may be charged with setting unfair trade barriers. Just last week the European Union set a requirement for labeling of most genetically engineered foods. "The Canadian and U.S. governments want to deny their citizens access to information. This is a further step to erode peoples trust in democracy," said Greenpeace’s Stefan Flothmann. "Furthermore, by flooding the European market with genetically engineered products, ignoring European consumer rights, they put the good relations between the European public and North America at risk."

The Council of Canadians works on Canadian social policy and trade issues.

Consumers International is a federation of 235 consumer organizations in 109 countries.

Greenpeace is an international environmental campaigning organization.

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