Posted on 13-5-2002

Food Corps Reject GE


Auckland, Monday 13
May:Much of the
market place is now free of genetic engineering, because some of the
largest food companies in New Zealand have taken steps to remove GE from
their products. “The few companies remaining in the red section of the
GE Free Food Guideare being left behind,” said Annette
Cotter, GE campaigner for Greenpeace. “The writing is on the wall for GE,
an unnecessary technology that nobody wants to eat. “Most companies have
listened to their customers’ calls for GE free food and have acted
accordingly.”


Company positions on GE will be released in full in the third edition of
the GE Free Food Guide, due out tomorrow. Since the
first edition, in December 2000, of the guide, most of the largest food
producers have shifted to sourcing ingredients that are non GE, and have
also ensured that their animal products are not from animals fed GE
feed. Some of the major shifts in the new GE Free Food Guide include:


Unilever Australasia stated that they have
‘worked to eliminate genetically modified crop derived ingredients,
through substitution, sourcing from areas where non-genetically modified
crops are grown and IP [identity preservation] systems’




Heinz Wattie’s confirmed that ‘over the
past three years we have investigated the source of all of our
ingredients and reformulated, where necessary, our product range to
eliminate GM content. As part of this investigation the issue of GM
feed has been considered and the same criteria applied’




Tegel and their feed distribution company
NRM have confirmed that they have no GE in their food or feed. NRM
distributes 230,000 tonnes annually of maize, wheat and soymeal, and are
the largest feed company in NZ




Arnotts have moved from the red category to
green with their declaration that all their products are non GE.




Other companies are in the process of sourcing non GE ingredients, and
have made a commitment to remove GE from their food and animal
products


Cerebos Greggs ‘have identified a small
number of ingredients, which are derived from genetically modified
ingredients or produced using the assistance of gene technology…These
products are exempt from labelling, however our food technologists are
currently replacing these food ingredients with non-genetically modified
alternatives…’




Greenpeace will be distributing the guide via its website { HYPERLINK
http://www.gefreefood.org.nz
www..gefreefood.org.nz
and handing out copies of the guide around Auckland.


The GE Free Food
Guideoutlines company positions on genetic engineering. The
companies are colour coded according to their policy on the use of GE
ingredients, and derivatives. The green category is companies that are
not using GE originated plant and animal ingredients. This includes a
policy of no GE animal feed. This criteria goes beyond the labelling
regulations (ANZFA). Also included are certified organic products - the
best guarantee of GE free. Companies who have committed to removing GE
originated plant and animal ingredients and are in the process of doing
so are classified as orange. The red category is companies that have no
clear policy of removing GE originated ingredients. This category can
include companies that did not respond adequately to our enquiries.


Contact: Annette Cotter 021 565 175 or Brendan Lynch 021 790 817