Archived press release

New genetic food labels con the public. Most modified food won't be labelled says FOE

30 August 1998

The EU labelling regulations permit numerous exemptions. This includes any foods that contain soya oil or other soya derivatives such as lecithin - even though they may have come from genetically engineered soya beans. The majority (over 60%) of processed foods contain soya in one form or another including bread, cakes, chocolate and baby food.

Friends of the Earth has disclosed ten top brands containing soya ingredients which won't need to be labelled to comply with the new legislation. The new rules will not require manufacturers to provide information on genetically altered ingredients in these products unless they choose to do so voluntarily. The list includes [2]:

. Twix, Kitkat and Galaxy (lecithin)
. Cadbury's chocolate fingers (lecithin)
. Bernard Matthews' Turkey breast joint (soya derived additive E471)
. Walls Vienetta ice cream (soya derived additive E471)
. Nestle Coffee Mate (soya derived additives E471 and E472)
. Most cooking oils - if specified as vegetable oil
. Kelloggs Nutrigrain (lecithin)
. Sunpat smooth peanut butter (E471)
. Terry's milk chocolate orange (lecithin)

The above list is not exhaustive. It simply serves to highlight the range of foodstuffs that may contain derivatives from genetically modified plants but which will not be required to be identified as such under the new rules.

Adrian Bebb, Food Campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said:
"British shoppers are being conned by politicians into believing that this labelling scheme will help them avoid genetically altered food: it won't. Two thirds of the public have said that they don't want to eat these Frankenstein foods, but

unfortunately they have little choice. Rather than relying on weak labelling schemes, the Government should listen to the public and introduce a moratorium on genetically engineered crops and food."

Government research evaluating the risks of genetically engineered foods won't be complete until 2001.

[1] Former Agriculture Minister and now Government enforcer, Jack Cunningham,stated in May this year that the new regulations were "a triumph for consumer rights to better information" and "consumers are our number one priority."

[2] This list indicates top brands containing soya and soya derived ingredients. Please note it is possible that the above products may be gm free.

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