For related articles and more
information, please visit OCA's
Genetic Engineering page and our
Millions Against Monsanto page.
Following announcements from M&S, Sainsbury's, Co-Op and Tesco
that they will no longer require that the farm animals in their
supply chains are fed a non GM diet, Peter Melchett, Policy
Director of the Soil Association said;
"Tesco and the Co-Op are misleading their customers by claiming
that the GM feed will not be detectable in products like eggs,
milk or chicken. This is not true. Several research studies have
found that GM DNA in animal feed is taken up by the animal's
organs and can then be detected in the milk, meat and fish that
people eat. This has been confirmed today by the Government's
Food Standards Agency.
M&S, Co-Op and Tesco are also misleading their customers by
claiming that non-GM feed isn't available. They are wrong. In
Brazil alone, there is enough non-GM animal feed to supply the
whole of Europe. The quantity of non-GM imported feed into
Europe is going up year on year, because supermarkets in
countries like France and Germany are avoiding GM feed because
their customers don't want it. The British public also don't
want it. A survey today found that 70% of consumers don't trust
supermarkets when it comes to GM and a recent FSA survey found
67% of consumers wanted meat, eggs and dairy labelled if they
come from animals fed on GM feed.
Consumers should have the right to know if they are eating
products from animals fed on a GM diet. Currently, British
people don't have that choice. Supermarkets are choosing to hide
the presence of GM animal feed and GM DNA in milk and meat by
deliberately not labelling products from animals fed on a GM
diet. What have UK supermarkets got to hide?
Organic Consumers Association
- 6771 South Silver Hill Drive, Finland MN 55603 To subscribe or visit go
to:
http://www.organicconsumers.org/