Since 18 April 2004 new rules for the labelling of genetically modified products have been in force in the European Union. If a product contains genetically modified organisms or is made from genetically modified organisms it has to be shown on the label. But supermarkets have not since filled up with products labelled GM, as Chris Lyddon reports.
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EU regulations 1829/2003 require that any intentional use of GM ingredients at any level must be labelled, although there is a threshold of 0.9% for approved GM varieties and 0.5% for unapproved varieties (as long as they have received a favourable assessment from an EU scientific committee) below which ingredients accidentally present in a foodstuff do not have to be labelled.
There are exceptions, notably for meat, milk and eggs from animals fed GM feed and for food produced with the help of a GM enzyme, which includes some cheese and bakery products.
British supermarkets have kept GM products off their shelves. The Co-operative Group is one example. “Co-op brand food products have not been affected by the EU regulation on GM labelling, because Co-op brand foods do not contain any ingredients or additives from GM sources,” spokeswoman Michelle Vernon tells just-food. The Co-op might be expected to go down a more ‘green’ route, but the same goes for the UK’s biggest supermarket Tesco. “Our policy on genetically modified foods is driven by the views of our customers,” a spokesperson for Tesco tells just-food. “They continue to tell us that they are not yet convinced of the benefits of GM. We do not, therefore, have any own-brand GM foods on our shelves.”
Zero tolerance
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By GlobalDataThe same pattern is repeated in Germany, according to Dr Klaus Minol, scientific manager of German consultancy Genius Biotech. “There are still only very few examples,” he tells just-food. Most of those were in specialist shops, stocking products imported from outside the EU.
He has no doubt why the big supermarkets in Germany and other European countries are keeping away from GMOs. “The fact is that the NGOs are watching the big chains very closely to see if they do stock any GM products,” he says. “If they do, they’ll make sure it’s brought to the attention of the media.”
Friends of the Earth responded as soon as the EU regulation came into force with a GM “Zero Tolerance” campaign. “Whilst we welcome the new GM food labelling laws, they don’t go nearly far enough,” said FoE GM campaigner Clare Oxborrow in a statement issued at the time. “Small amounts of GM ingredients can still find their way into our food without needing to be labelled and consumers still won’t be able to avoid milk and meat from animals fed GM feed.”
Friends of the Earth recognised the supermarkets’ refusal to stock GMOs. “Supermarkets have already listened to their customers and put in place GM free policies, but they could be going further,” they said. “Consumers have tremendous power over retailers, and we are urging them to use that power to ensure that everyone has a real choice about what they eat.”
Greenpeace is not really interested in labelling. “Greenpeace has never really called for labelling, GM Campaigner Sarah North tells just-food. “The problem with GM crops is that they can’t really be contained. Consumers will be left without a choice at the end of the day.”
She agreed that the labelling laws had produced very few actual instances of labelling. “There aren’t many products in UK supermarkets,” she says.
Concern over Brazil
The complete absence of GM labels could soon end, if a trend towards GM soy among Brazilian farmers continues. “The big issue is whether Brazil can maintain its GM free supply of soybeans,” says Sarah North. “Farmers there may plant genetically modified soya if the buyers don’t stipulate non-GM.”
That could mean a lot more products carrying a GM label. “It could all change in the next year and a half,” she says. “There really aren’t a lot of alternatives to the soy derivatives.” One example was chocolate, which, she says, would have to be made using soya. “Chocolate would have to be labelled as GM,” she says.
According to Friends of the Earth, the British Retail Consortium is also concerned about Brazil. The BRC had called on the Brazilian industry to “resist further growth of GM planting”, because “it will be enormously difficult to maintain trust in the food chain should Brazil’s supply of non-GM soybean dry up,” FoE said in a statement.
“It represents a strong re-affirmation that the UK retail industry wants to continue to provide GM-free products to UK consumers,” Friends of the Earth said. “The statement also underlines the importance of Brazilian soya production in ensuring a future for GM-free food in the UK. The BRC says it is “essential that Brazil remains a continued source of non-GM soybean and halts the progression at the current level of 35% GM”
“The BRC position is backed by reference to public attitudes in the UK: 79% would not knowingly buy food containing GM ingredients,” it said
BRC spokeswoman Kate Ison tells just-food that the organisation had not actually put out a statement saying that. “Friends of the Earth picked up on something we said at a meeting in Brussels,” she says.
Food for the future
Friends of the Earth says that the labelling does not go far enough. “Although all the major UK food companies continue to shun GM ingredients in their food, vast quantifies of GM soya for animal feed are still being imported,” it says. “Animal products, like milk, meat and eggs, are not subject to GM labelling regulations.”
Campaigner Pete Riley of the GM Freeze, which includes Friends of the Earth, praises what he called “this re-affirmation of GM free policy from British retailers”.
“It is important that the BRC ensures that its message is heard loud and clear in Brazil – by farmers and other players along the soya supply chain,” he says.
“But some UK food companies have clearly been resting on their laurels and have failed to phase out GM animal feed with any great urgency,” Riley says. “It is high time that they backed the BRC statement with firm orders for GM-free soya for animal feed across their whole range. This would provide customers with milk, meat and eggs from animals that are not fed on GM feed. If food companies act now, the costs of such action can be kept to a minimum and they will help guarantee GM-free food for the future.”
