Western Daily Press

Poll Split Over Ban On X-Foods

More West consumers are in favour of genetically-modified foods than want them banned - though only by the narrowest of margins - a new survey has shown.

Forty-five per cent of people questioned declared themselves opposed to a ban on the foods.

This is roughly in line with the national average.

But a higher-than-average 42 per cent still believe they should not be sold.

The findings come in an NOP survey carried out in July.

But the poll also reveals people in the West are far more aware of the issues involved than those in any other part of the country.

Ninety-seven per cent believed, correctly, that GM ingredients are already available in food on sale and 73 per cent said they were either concerned or very concerned about them.

Nearly 90 per cent want GM foods to be labelled.

The results have been released ahead of a public debate on the whole issue of GM foods scheduled to take place at the Bristol Management Centre on October 6.