Lots of food in your larder - from nachos to poultry to baby food and soya milk - could also contain ingredients whose genetic make-up has been altered in a bid to make them plumper, tastier or resistant to disease.

But it is unlikely that you will ever know.

The reason: Unlike dozens of developed countries around the world, Singapore does not require manufacturers and retailers to label GM foods.

While the foods have not proven to be unsafe, their sale has sparked protests from Indonesia to the United States, driven largely by fears about >the long-term effects of tinkering with Mother Nature.

According to Singapore's Genetic Modification Advisory Committee, about half of the corn, canola oil and soya bean sold in Singapore are genetically modified.

Dr Wong Kwok Onn, head of the survey and safety review branch at the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA), said that Singapore's reliance on imported food means GM foods 'could be anywhere on the market now'.

Consumers, though, have little way of knowing what they are buying.

Singapore laws allow manufacturers and importers to leave out or even remove labels that would inform consumers they are buying GM foods.

Many companies, Dr Wong said, do just that because they are 'worried that Singaporeans might not accept them'.

While the issue is a major one around the globe, it is only just gaining steam here.

No one has complained to Singapore's consumer watchdog about the lack of labelling, but some shoppers The Straits Times spoke to were concerned when told that they might be buying GM foods.

Mrs Khairina Mohd, 45, a mother of two, wants labels on such items.

She said: 'Like most other educated Singaporeans, I want to know what I am putting into my mouth. It's a basic right.'

Mr Daniel Koh, 36, a psychologist, said: 'Just browsing online, I can tell the issue is getting out of hand globally and there are more GM foods around.

'We are consumers too, and I would like to know more about the food I am eating and the long-term effects, if any.'

Although no side effects from eating GM foods have emerged, the long-term effects of bioengineering have not been completely evaluated, said Mr Peter Droge, head of genomics and genetics at Nanyang Technological University.

Still, some Singaporeans couldn't care less if GM foods are labelled.

Businessman Goh Keng Wee, 53, is among them.

He said: 'It does not matter much to me. If it is safe and tastes good, why should I care?'

Proponents of genetic modification view it as the answer to food shortages. Yields are higher and less water, energy and fertiliser are used in the production process, Mr Droge explained.

Currently, 51 countries - including China, Canada and the United States - produce GM foods.

More than two-thirds of modified American corn, for example, is exported to Asia and Africa.

Labelling of these foods is compulsory only in the European Union and in about 30 countries, including Japan and Australia.

It is not compulsory here because of the lack of international consensus on the labelling of GM foods, said Dr Wong.

However, that could change following a meeting next month of an international body that sets standards for the food industry, according to government officials.

limjess@sph.com.sg