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UK Supermarkets United in Continued Opposition to GM Foods and Ingredients

6 January 2002


gmfoodnews.com has carried out a survey of UK supermarkets for their
position on genetically modified (GM) food and ingredients for 2002.

The results show that opposition to GM foods is as strong as it was in 1999, when supermarkets removed GM foods and ingredients from their shelves. Just as in 1999, no UK supermarket includes GM food or
ingredients in their own-brand products.

Supermarkets maintain this position because of the continued rejection by consumers of GM foods. Consumers believe that GM foods are unsafe, untested and may cause environmental damage.

The views of the UK supermarkets can be seen in the summary below:


Co-op

"No Co-op Brand products will be made using any genetically modified
ingredient."

 http://www.co-op.co.uk/ext1/Development.nsf/14d9787189cefeb080256547003d055e/08cf9069352cee5e0025683500432df0?OpenDocument&Highlight=2,gm


Iceland

"As pioneers in the food retail industry Iceland were the world's first to ban GM ingredients in our own label range in May 1998."

 http://www.iceland.co.uk/ext_11/web/market.nsf/(websearch)/wugm?OpenDocument


Marks and Spencer

"All Marks and Spencer food products are made without Genetically
Modified ingredients or derivatives, and an increasing range of the
animals we use in food production are fed on non-GM diets."

 http://www2.marksandspencer.com/thecompany/ourcommitmenttosociety/environment/info/food/gm/intro.shtml


Safeway

"We listen carefully to our customers' comments and concerns and we
have removed GM soya and maize ingredients from our own brand
products. This was achieved in 1999."

 http://www.safeway.co.uk/cgi-bin/search.cgi?adsrid=1010343452&location=000011000002&showitem=000001


Sainsbury's

"In response to overwhelming customer concern we have eliminated GM
ingredients from all our own brand food, pet food and dietary
supplements."

 http://www.sainsbury.co.uk/gm/


Tesco

"In the UK, Tesco has removed GM ingredients from all own brand
products."

 http://www.tesco.com/everyLittleHelps/dobEnvironmentDetail.htm#tagm


Waitrose

"No Waitrose own label product produced since the end of March 1999
contains GM ingredients as defined by law..."

"...With effect from the end of September 1999, all the soya and maize
used in the production of the oils and additives for Waitrose products
came from "traditional" crops."

 http://www.waitrose.com/about/policy_statements/genetic_modification/safety_gm.asp


Contact:

Marcus Williamson
 marcus.williamson@myrealbox.com
 http://www.gmfoodnews.com/