Posted on 2/12/2001

G-Day Dec 7

On December 7, the GE foods labelling regime comes into effect in New Zealand.

As of the 7th, if you don't see the words "genetically modified" on the
label, it could mean any one of the
following:

(i) the product is free of GMOs,

(ii) the product contains GE-derived ingredients that don't have to be
labelled (e.g., oils, sugars, starches, additives, processing aids, as well
as products from animals fed on GE feeds) OR

iii) it is food from a takeaway, bakery or restaurant, so it doesn't need
to be labelled

(iv) it has GE-ingredients but it doesn't have to be labelled because it
was made and packaged before
December 7 2001.

Green Party, Greenpeace and GE Free NZ in Food and Environment have put
together a basic information
leaflet. It covers:
- what GE foods will be labelled and which won't
- what GE foods have been approved for human consumption
- how to avoid GE foods (what the public can do)

IDEAS for acting on labelling and/or to get companies to change their policies

Stalls with information on GE foods and labelling. Encourage people to
write to Helen Clark, Annette King and get in touch with their MPs to tell
them how unsatisfactory and confusing the new regime is, how their right to
provide GE free food for their families and friends is violated by the
labelling regime.

Tours. Brief yourselves on which brands or products are GE free, and
organise tours of the supermarkets. You
might like to use the Greenpeace True Food Guide for this.

THEMES (example): GE FREE Christmas Dinner You may want to use a GE Free
Christmas theme: encourage people to have a GE Free Christmas dinner.

WHERE DO THE MAJOR SUPERMARKETS STAND ON GE?

There are three major supermarket groups:
- Foodstuffs (New World, 4 Square and Pack N Save)
- Woolworths (Woolworths, Big Fresh, Price Chopper)
- Progressive (Foodtown and Countdown).

Progressive and Woolworths have committed to ensuring their OWN BRANDS are
GE Free.

Foodstuffs is NOT doing this for its own brand, PAMS.

Foodstuffs will label (it's the law) but they are not going "out of their
way" to source GE-Free products. Foodstuffs says that "anecdotal evidence
showed consumers were relaxed about GM food and would not refuse to eat
it." (Source: Business Herald, 21/22/01)

GE Free food guide online at Greenpeace:
http://www.greenpeace.org.nz/truefood/index.html