Monsanto opened a new Internet site that includes some of the news reports that have been critical of genetic engineering in foods. One story told of Monsanto's apology to Europeans for "heavy-handed" attempts to promote genetic altered products. Another reported a new poll showing that 95 percent of Britons interviewed wanted modified foods labeled.

The efforts speak of the stark difference between attitudes in Europe and the United States, where people exhibit few concerns about modified food products like Monsanto's artificial sweetener NutraSweet.

Monsanto makes agricultural products, pharmaceuticals and food ingredients. Monsanto spun off its chemical business last year, and is being acquired by American Home Products Corp. for $33.5 billion.

European acceptance is critical to Monsanto and its rivals, as a market for genetically modified foods as a gateway to the rest of the world. Europe also is important to U.S. farmers, who are moving steadily to modified soybeans and corn and have no mechanisms to separate them from nonmodified varieties for export.

Part of Europe's cautious, sometimes hostile attitude has to do with European attentiveness to food and its sources. There is also a perception that European governments and scientists failed to protect people from mad cow disease.

Toby Moffett, Monsanto vice president of for international governmental affairs, said Monsanto recognizes that it failed to pay sufficient attention to public opinion.

"We barged in, like someone barging in on someone's private party," Moffett said.