Archived press release

Foe congratulates sainsbury's on GM food ban

17 March 1999

Friends of the Earth today congratulated Sainsbury's on its announcement that it is to remove all GM ingredients from its own-label products. It also welcomed the lead that the giant supermarket chain is taking in setting up an international consortium of food retailers and industry experts to validate sources of GM free crops, products and derivatives.

Pete Riley, Senior Food Campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said:
“We are delighted that Sainsbury's is listening to its customers and is now banning GM ingredients from all its products. The spotlight will now fall on Tesco and Safeway who continue to resist public opinion. This move will also put pressure on those food manufacturers who continue to use GM ingredients despite the fact that it is only Tony Blair who wants them.”

Last year Friends of the Earth launched a campaign to persuade supermarkets to go GM free. The campaign has targeted Sainsbury stores around the country. In October 1998 FOE commissioned NOP to survey supermarket customers. 58 per cent of supermarket shoppers wanted stores to go GM free. Earlier this month FOE revealed that most fast food chains were either going GM free or were considering it. Later this week the Government is expected to announce new laws on the labelling of food containing GM ingredients.However, there are fears that the new regulations will exclude some GM ingredients such as lecithin (a soya bi-product) and oils.

Pete Riley continued:
“Companies that respect their customers' wish to avoid GM food and take action to give them what they want will do better than those who do not. The Government should assist those companies taking action by banning GM ingredients until tests on their potential impacts on health have been completed.Failing that Ministers must ensure that the public is warned about food products containing any GM ingredient. Anything less will demonstrate how out of touch the Government is with the public mood on this issue.”

The current supermarket position

Own-brand GM-free: Iceland
Going GM free (own brand): M&S (who only stock own-brand food) and Sainsbury's
Hoping to go completely (own brand) GM free: Waitrose, Co-op and ASDA
No plans to go GM-free: Tesco and Safeway

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust