A national campaign to rid grocery stores of genetically engineered (GE) foods has begun with a protest at Shaw’s/Star Market over its use of these controversial ingredients.
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Consumers joined Greenpeace and Clean Water Action, both members of the GE-Free Markets Coalition, in demanding that Shaw’s remove untested GE ingredients from its store brand products. The protesters conveyed their message in front of the Allston, Mass., store with a banner reading “Stop Genetically Engineered Food” and by handing out pamphlets outlining the health and environmental risks of GE foods.
The group says it will continue to pressure the grocery chain at stores around the region until it commits to going GE-free.
Shaw’s parent company, UK-based J Sainsbury, has already stopped using GE ingredients. According to coalition representative Beverly Thorpe, Shaw’s has a responsibility to “end this double standard” and offer the same assurances of GE-free food to its US consumers.
Genetic testing requested by the coalition found that three Shaw’s brand products tested contained genetically engineered ingredients. Those products testing positive included Shaw’s Brand Crispy Corn Puffs cereal, Shaw’s Brand Yellow Corn Chips and Shaw’s Brand Complete Pancake and Waffle Mix.
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By GlobalDataLinda Setchell of Clean Water Action in Boston insisted: “These experimental foods are untested and unwanted, and we’re here calling people to action to get them out of our grocery stores.”
In addition to the protest in Boston, consumers and activists demonstrated at Shaw’s and Star Markets in Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Maine. Students with MASSPIRG also handed out flyers and postcards calling on Shaw’s to go GE- free.
The GE-Free Markets Coalition is a working group of the Genetic Engineering Action Network. Coalition members include Carolina Partners for Pure Food, Clean Water Action, Free the Planet!, GeneWise, Greenpeace, Institute for Social Ecology – Biotechnology Project, MASSPIRG, New York State Greens, NW Resistance Against Genetic Engineering (NW RAGE), Organic Consumers Association, People’s Voluntary Labeling Brigade of Vermont, Sarasota Alliance for Safe Foods (SASF), and SOS Food! of New York.
The coalition vowed in a press release: “This is the beginning of a long-term national campaign to rid our grocery stores of genetically engineered foods.”
