Archived press release

FOE TARGETS TESCO IN NATIONAL GM FOOD CAMPAIGN. Frankenstein takes message to Supermarket of the Year Award

25 March 1999

Photo Opportunity

12.10 pm, Thursday 25 March.
Outside Claridges, which is hosting the Supermarket of the Year Awards.
Frankenstein will be outside Claridges, Brook St, W1, urging Tesco to listen to its customers and remove GM ingredients from its own-brand food items.

Tesco is to become the focus of a nationwide campaign on genetically modified (GM) food,it was revealed today. Over the next few weeks FOE will be telling Tesco's customers around the country about the company's refusal to remove GM ingredients from its own-brand products. Last October a NOP survey [1] showed that most Tesco customers wanted the store to go GM-free. Tesco is being targeted because it is the only major supermarket which continues to ignore its customers views on genetically modified food. Later today the winners of the prestigious Supermarket of the Year Awards will be announced [2].

Over recent weeks supermarkets have responded to customer concern over GM food. Sainsbury's and M&S will have completely GM-free own-brand food within months, and Safeway, Asda, Waitrose, Somerfield, Morrisons and the Co-op hope to follow suit. Earlier this week, frozen foods store Iceland, which removed GM ingredients from its own-label brands last year, announced large profits. Its policy on GM food was regarded as a major factor in this increase.

Robin Maynard, local campaigns director at Friends of the Earth, said:
“Tesco's is the only major supermarket chain refusing to listen to its customers wishes on GM food. The market leader is dragging its heels on this important issue and has now been overtaken by the rest of the field. People want GM-free food and, as Iceland's financial results showed earlier this week, they are prepared to reward those stores that provide it. If Tesco continues to force feed its customers Frankenstein food they shouldn't be surprised if shoppers choose to go elsewhere.”

[1] NOP/FOE survey 20 October 1998.
[2] The Award's dinner is likely to be GM-free. Claridges avoids using GM ingredients.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust