The UK Government's Food Analysis Performance Assessment Scheme (FAPAS ) tested 80 laboratories across Europe used by retailers to check for GM contamination and found widespread failure and inconsistency. 20% of the laboratories missed GM ingredients. 60% found them where there weren't any. One laboratory found 12 times higher levels of GM ingredients in one product than another laboratory.

These findings meant that many products on the shelves labelled as GM-free probably were not, and vice versa, but the UK's new Food Standards Agency was surprisingly relaxed about it. "We feel the current tests are effective when correctly applied. Detection is only one method of enforcement; there are documentation checks and sourcing."