Just Label It: Why Label Changes Don’t Affect Food Prices – free report

Requiring food manufacturers to label products that contain genetically engineered (GE) ingredients will not increase food prices at the supermarket, according to an independent study released by the national Just Label It campaign.
The study, conducted by food marketing expert Kai Robertson, found no evidence connecting changes in food labels to supermarket prices. Robertson identified the key factors that influence retail prices, including consumer demographics and rival pricing behavior, along with market, chain and store characteristics. Wholesale prices have less of an effect on retail prices than these demand-related forces, and there is no evidence that label changes affect wholesale prices. In sum, this study supports Just Label It’s conclusion that proposals to change labels of GE food will not affect retail prices paid by shoppers.
Just Label It commissioned the independent study as more than 25 states consider legislation to label GE foods. Two states, Connecticut and Maine, have already approved GE labeling laws, and Washington voters will consider a GE labeling ballot initiative in November. Polls show that more than 90% of American consumers want to know whether their food contains GE ingredients, and 64 nations have already required GE labeling (Press Release Just Label It, 11 September 2013).
Click here for the press release.
Click here for the report (338 kB).

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