Coles And Top Food Companies Reject Genetically Engineered Canola

< BACK TO FOOD BEVERAGE starstarstarstarstar   Culture - Food Beverage Press Release
24th November 2008, 01:38pm - Views: 823
Coles and top food companies reject genetically engineered canola
Greenpeace launches True Food Guide for easy GE-free shopping

Sydney, Monday, November 24th, 2008: Australia's culinary icon Margaret Fulton today launched
the "Canola Edition" of the Greenpeace True Food Guide in Sydney. The guide, which aims to help
consumers avoid buying genetically engineered food products, was today welcomed by industry and
consumer representatives (2) and top chefs at the launch event, hosted by Bird Cow Fish head chef
Alex Herbert (3).
Leading supermarket brands Coles, Aldi and IGA Metcash (4), top users of canola oil Goodman
Fielder, Unilever and Peerless foods (5), and some of the biggest consumer food brands including
Kellogs, Heinz, Arnott's, Carman's Fine Foods, King Island Dairy and Lilydale, are now listed as
"green" in the True Food Guide and will "actively avoid ingredients from GE crops". This major
industry rejection comes at a time when Australia's first genetically engineered canola is being
harvested in New South Wales and Victoria.

Launching the True Food Guide Canola Edition, Margaret Fulton said, "This is the first time so
many food brands have pledged their commitment to use only natural non-GE produce; it is so
reassuring to see how far we have come from the launch of the first True Food Guide in 2002. It is
fantastic that GE-free shopping can now be easy and affordable."

Jackie Healing, Coles Quality Manager said, "Coles developed its current range of house brands to
exclude genetically modified ingredients after we recognised our customers' concerns about the
technology and its use in the food they purchase from us."

The wallet-sized GE-free shopping guide also provides information about food products which "may
allow GE ingredients" to help consumers make an informed choice. Shoppers will be able to avoid
buying products and brands in the "red" which include Nestle, Cadbury, Kraft, Mars, Leggo's, Uncle
Toby's, Weight Watchers and Woolworths own brands.


Michelle Sheather, Greenpeace genetic engineering campaigner said, "The timely and positive
response from a majority of the food industry means that although GE canola will enter our food
chain unlabelled (7), we can still avoid eating GE food. This should send a clear message to our
food regulator and the government that there is no future in GE food; we need to keep GE food and
crops out of Australia."
Chefs, mothers, scientists nutritionists and leading groups, including the Public Health Association
of Australia, have joined Greenpeace in asking for labelling of all GE food - including oils and
products from animals (milk eggs, meat, honey) fed on GE feed. They are also calling for
independent safety assessment of GE food crops. Concerned Australians can voice their concern
by signing the petition to the Health Minister, Nicola Roxon at:
http://www.truefood.org.au/OurRightToKnow/


For More information please contact:
Michelle Sheather; Greenpeace Genetic Engineering Campaigner - 0417 241 371
Ruchira Talukdar; Greenpeace Communications - 0407 414 572

For images and video please visit:
http://media.greenpeace.org.au/
Username: photos Password: green


Notes to editors:

1. The True Food Guide can be downloaded at www.truefood.org.au, and consumers can ask for a
copy by calling Greenpeace at 1800815151. Rating for the True Food Guide Red and Green
lists is based on company policy for genetically engineered ingredients, namely corn, soy, cotton
and canola. A full list of companies rated in the True Food Guide and more information on our
rating can be found at www.truefood.org.au.

2. Carolyn Creswell, Founder and Managing Director of Carman's Fine Foods was the industry
keynote speaker at the launch.

3. Alex Herbert joins over 170 leading Australian chefs, including Margaret Fulton, Neil Perry, Bill
Granger, Kylie Kwong, Tetsuya Wakuda, Maggie Beer and Stephanie Alexander who have
signed the GE free chefs charter:
http://www.greenpeace.org/australia/issues/GE/our-work/gm-chefs-charter

4. Coles home brands Coles Finest, Coles Smartbuy and You'll Love Coles are free of GE
ingredients; Aldi exclusive brands are free of GE ingredients.

5. Goodman Fielder, Unilever and Peerless Foods together form the majority of the market for
canola oil in Australia. Approximately half of the canola grown in Australia is consumed in
Australia; the rest is exported. Australia is one of the top three global exporters of canola.


6. Recent Newspoll results show that a majority of Australians do not want to eat GE food:
http://www.greenpeace.org/australia/news-and-events/news/GE/gm-poll-220908

7. Canola is used extensively in oils and as feed for animals. Under current labelling laws, oils and
products derived from animals do not need be labelled for GE ingredients.


news articles logo NEWS ARTICLES
Contact News Articles |Remove this article