Examples of Genetically-Manipulated Ingredients Being Removed
From Foods Around Europe and Asia
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FROZEN FOODS SUPPLIER FIRST TO GO GM-FREE Sept. 19 /99
Electronic Telegraph, Lauren Mills
Brake Bros., Britain's biggest distributor of frozen foods, has,
according to this story, eradicated genetically modified ingredients
from all its products, making it the first wholesale catering supplier
to be totally GM-free.
From today, the group promises that all 2,000 food items it supplies to
retaurants, hotels, schools and hospitals will be free of GM
ingredients. The blanket GM ban covers products carrying manufacturers'
brand names as well as Brake's own-label ranges across Brake Bros
Foodservice,
Larderfresh and Country Choice...
Ian Player, Brake Bros' chief executive, was cited as saying he hopes
the move will help boost the group's sales, adding, "It is what our
customers want and we are here to satisfy them. People are concerned
about the issue wherever they eat. I think it will give us an advantage
over our rivals, especially on the health and education side."
AMSTERDAM, March 17, 1999 - Greenpeace International today welcomed two
major steps towards a genetically modified (GM) free food supply at two
different ends of the world.
....
At the same time the UK retailer J. Sainsbury's announced that it will not
sell any genetically engineered products under it's own label. Sainsbury's
also revealed that it had formed a consortium of major European retailers,
including Marks & Spencer (UK), Carrefour (France), Superquinn (Ireland),
Migros (Switzerland), Delhaiz (Belgium) and Effelunga (Italy), who will
jointly source GM-free products. [Note: Reports state that Marks & Spencer
will remove all GM products from their shelves.]
....
Fast food chains ban GM (BBC News - 18 September 1999)
http://news2.thls.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/newsid%5F450000/450979.stm
Britain's biggest fast-food chains, including McDonald's and Burger
King, say they have removed genetically-modified (GM) ingredients from
their menus in time for the introduction of new labelling laws.
Friends of the Earth surveyed 11 leading chains and found all said
they did not use GM soya or maize.
The government has ordered all food containing GM ingredients to be
labelled from Sunday following implementation of a European Union
directive last September.
Caterers, shops, food-makers and restaurants must all comply or face
fines.
However, FoE highlighted a loophole in the legislation which meant
food outlets could supply meals which contained GM derivatives such as
GM lecithin and GM soya oil without having to tell customers.
Two of the companies surveyed - Pret a Manger and Domino's Pizza -
said they had removed GM derivatives while a further six said they
were removing them.
Pete Riley, senior food campaigner at FoE, said: "This survey shows
that restaurants recognise that customers do not want to eat food
containing GM ingredients or derivatives and that most are now
removing them as fast as they can.
"However, restaurants might well ask why they have to go to all the
trouble and expense to ensure that their meals don't contain
ingredients that neither they nor their customers want.
....
GIANT COMPANIES TO PHASE OUT BIOTECH FOODS
Environmental News Service
LONDON, UK, April 28, 1999 - The world's two largest food production
companies are withdrawing their acceptance of genetically modified
foodstuffs. Foods giant Unilever UK said Tuesday it would phase out
genetically engineered foods, a move that was closely followed by a similar
announcement by Nestle UK tonight.
Unilever, an Anglo-Dutch firm, sells over 1,000 brands of foods through 300
subsidiary companies in 88 countries world-wide with products on sale in a
further 70 countries. Nestle, headquartered in Switzerland, is the world's
largest food production company with 495 factories around the world.
The announcement by Nestle UK has major implications for the company's
international production system, as most of its centralised production
facilities produce for the entire European market and not for the UK alone.
....
Headline: Japan food maker to drop gene-altered soybeans
Wire Service: RTw (Reuters World Report) [EXCERPTS]
Date: Wed, Sep 1, 1999
TOKYO, Sept 1 (Reuters) - Japan's largest maker of soybean protein
food products, Fuji Oil Co Ltd, said on Wednesday the group will stop
using genetically modified (GM) soybeans by next April due to consumer
concern over the safety of bioengineered crops.
Fuji Oil will start switching to non-GM soybeans in the
October-March period, a company spokesman said. Until now Fuji Oil has
not distinguished between GM and non-GM soybeans when placing orders.
The Fuji Oil group uses 80,000-100,000 tonnes of soybeans annually,
most of which is imported from the United States.
Fuji Oil plans to buy non-GM soybeans imported from the United
States by the Japanese trading house Itochu Corp. Fuji Oil is a member of the
Itochu group of companies.
Japan imported 2.85 million tonnes of soybeans in the first seven
months of 1999. Traders expect 75-80 percent will be used for oil
production and the rest for other food products, such as tofu.
Last month several of Japan's largest breweries announced plans to
stop using genetically altered corn, and ingredients made from such
corn, in their operations.
....
http://WWW.PLANETARK.ORG/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=3681
Leading European dog food maker eschews GM
France, September 16
PARIS - Europe's leading dry dog food producer, Royal Canin, vowed
yesterday not to include genetically modified (GM) ingredients in any of its
pet food lines.
The decision by the Paris-based firm comes after British pet food producer
Pascoe's Group Plc launched the country's first wholly organic, non-GM dog
food line last month.
It also comes amid a looming trade war as European consumers, concerned
about the safety of foods derived from GM crops, reject genetically modified
products many of which are imported from the United States.
"While we await authoritative scientific clarification, and while faithful
to our values of respect for dogs and cats, Royal Canin wishes to guarantee
the highest level of quality and security for its product range," the company
said in a statement.
It said the policy, long implemented in its most nutritious pet food lines,
would be applied to production at its three European plants. The company is
also weighing extending it as soon as possible to its factories in Brazil,
Argentina and the United States.
....
Etc.
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