Top food manufacturers shifting from GMOs
Federal agriculture minister Warren Truss argues that Australia should continue with trials of genetically modified crops in order to avoid "missing the boat on the new science". However, in Europe, many food producers got on the boat, but are now trying to get off because of public opposition.
To test the impact of consumer concerns about genetically modified organisms (GMOs), Friends of the Earth (FoE) Europe surveyed the top food and drink manufacturers in European earlier this year. The results demonstrated that most of the biggest companies have either decided to eliminate GMOs from their products or are intending to look for non-GMO-sourced supplies.
Of the 21 companies contacted by FoE:
17 said that they only used ingredients from GMO-free crops, or were moving to that practice. Most indicated that they had also eliminated, or were eliminating, derivatives from GMO crops;
Unilever, the biggest food manufacturer in Europe, said it supplied food made from GM-free crops where the public demanded it, but it was unable to say in which countries this policy operated; and
ConAgra, Sara Lee Corporation and RJR Nabisco did not reply.
Those companies that said they currently, or will shortly, obtain all their ingredients from non-GMO sources include Pepsi Cola, Coca Cola, Heinz, Mars, Danone, Campbell, Kelloggs, Cadbury and Kraft/Jacobs/Suchard.
McDonald's Europe said that, "due to concerns expressed by consumers ... McDonald's [outlets] in Europe have asked suppliers to source non-GM ingredients, additives and processing aids".
Even if food manufacturers try to meet consumers' demands for GMO-free food, this will be increasingly difficult due to the lack of segregation and adequate labelling of commodities and raw materials imported to the European Union, and the likelihood of GMO pollution due to contamination of conventional and organic crops through cross-pollination from GM crops. As a result, FoE Europe last month launched a European campaign to halt GMO pollution. The campaign is active in 23 countries.
For further information, contact the FoE Europe biotechnology campaign at <biotechnology@foeeurope.org>, or visit <http://www.foeeurope.org/Stop-GMO-Pollution>.
[From a paper prepared by Friends of the Earth Australia, PO Box 222, Fitzroy 3065. Phone (03) 9419 8700, fax (03) 9416 208, email <foe@foe.org.au> and web: <http://www.foe.org.au>.]