Friends of the Earth today
publishes a major survey of British supermarkets, rating each major High Street
name against key “Real Food” tests.
We graded each supermarket
on:
GM free meat and dairy
products. Does the supermarket guarantee that the animals who provide
its meat and dairy products have not been fed on GM food?
Pesticides.
What is your supermarket doing to ensure that the food it sells is not contaminated
with dangerous pesticides?
Affordable organic
food. What is your supermarket doing to supply organic food and support
more organic farming in Britain?
Top place goes to Waitrose,
which scores 8 out of 12 possible marks, followed closely by Iceland and Asda.
Bottom place goes to budget chain Netto, which scored no points at all.
But a surprise low spot also goes to Tesco, which scored only 2 out of
12. On removal of dangerous pesticides such as Lindane from their products,
Sainsbury’s, Marks & Spencers, Safeway, Somerfield and Tesco all scored
zero.
As part of Real Food Week
(16th to 25th June), FOE has issued its supporters and members of the public
with a Supermarket Challenge Card, which can be posted in any supermarket suggestion
box or handed in at checkouts. The Challenge Card asks the supermarket to improve
its Real Food performance.
Commenting, FOE Real Food
Campaigner Sandra Bell said:
“When it comes to
food, the consumer rules. Supermarkets cannot afford to ignore the growing demand
for Real Food. People want affordable food, free of GM ingredients and dangerous
chemical residues – at a fair price. Our survey – and other evidence we will
be publishing during Real Food Week – suggests that the supermarkets have a
long way to go to meet public demands. Those that don’t may find that customers
simply move their business.”
SURVEY RESULTS
| Rank | Supermarket |
GM
Food |
Pesticides
|
Organic
|
Total
|
| 1st | Waitrose |
2
|
3
|
3
|
8
|
| 2nd | Asda |
3
|
2
|
1
|
6
|
| Iceland |
3
|
2
|
1
|
6
|
|
| 4th | Marks & Spencer |
3
|
0
|
2
|
5
|
| 5th | Co-op |
1
|
2
|
1
|
4
|
| Sainsbury’s |
2
|
0
|
2
|
4
|
|
| 7th | Safeway |
2
|
0
|
1
|
3
|
| 8th | Morrisons |
1
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
| Somerfield |
1
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
|
| Tesco |
1
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
|
| 11th | Aldi |
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
| 12th | Netto |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
GM Food – scored out
of 4 for their provision of GM-free meat and diary
Pesticides – scored out of 4 for their commitment to removing dangerous
pesticides
Organic – scored out of 4 for their commitment to promoting organic food
