The petition – “Our Right to Know” – calls on Federal Health Minister, Nicola Roxon, to introduce labelling and rigorous safety testing for all food derived from genetically modified (GM) crops. 

Oils and other highly processed foods are currently not labelled for GM ingredients nor are produce from animals fed with GM feed. Canola is used extensively in processed foods, as cooking oil and in animal feed. Australia’s first GM food crop, GM canola, will be harvested in NSW and Victoria later this year.

Dr Rosemary Stanton, author of more than 20 books on nutrition, believes that the current process for assessing the safety of GM foods in Australia is inadequate. “We have no idea about the long-term health impacts of GM food because appropriate tests have generally not been done and the products have not been labelled. The lack of labelling concerns me,” says Dr Stanton.

“People have a right to know what they are eating.”

Margaret Fulton

The launch of the food labelling petition follows more than 150 of Australia’s leading chefs expressing their opposition to serving genetically modified (GM) foods in their restaurants through a GM-Free Chefs Charter. Top chefs such as Tetsuya Wakuda, Maggie Beer, Bill Granger, Stephanie Alexander, Kylie Kwong and Margaret Fulton have signed the charter. The charter calls for the thorough labelling of all food products containing GM ingredients and opposes the recent introduction of GM canola in New South Wales and Victoria.

Tobie Puttock, head chef of “Fifteen”, says he always uses the freshest, seasonal produce he can find. “It's something I continually drum into my chefs and trainee chefs at Fifteen in the hope they will adopt this philosophy too," says Puttock.

“As Australians, we have an almost unique opportunity to grow and source our produce locally and naturally. It's so important on every front that we continue to support that, or if GM products are a reality then at the very least we have the right to know exactly what we are eating. Eat local, Eat natural!”

“At the very least it is imperative that any GM produce be labelled.”

Stephanie Alexander, chef

GM food will end up on our tables unlabelled through supermarket products and food from restaurants and take-aways. Australians have the right to know if they are eating GM food or not. Sign the petition to demand the labelling and stringent safety testing of all GM food.

The petition has been endorsed by a variety of organisations including the Public Health Association of Australia, the State Conservation Councils, Friends of the Earth, The Network of Concerned Farmers, GeneEthics, the Biological Farmers Association, Slow Food Victoria, the Organic Federation, MADGE, and the Organic Traders and Consumers Network.

Take action: Sign the petition asking for comprehensive labelling of GM food

Read more about GM crops