Sainsbury's Targeted in Week of GM Protest (June 10th)

Sainsbury's staff at the company's London headquarters will be greeted by a series of anti-GM demonstrations next week (13-17 June) as part of a Europe-wide action against GM. Campaigners [1], accompanied by Brazilian dancers, a samba band and pantomime cows, will highlight how the company is continuing to use GM-fed milk and meat. Former Environment Minister Michael Meacher will attend Thursday's demonstration.

Five years ago Sainsbury's promised to phase out GM feed from the diets of the herds that produce their dairy products. So far they have failed to do so. The public is largely unaware of the presence of imported GM crops in the food chain because meat, milk and other products from animals fed GM feed are not labelled.

Supermarkets' failure to phase out GM animal feed could now threaten the availability of non-GM ingredients in our food. Until now, Brazil has been the main source of non-GM soya. But the Brazilian Government has just given approval for GM soya to be grown and there is a risk that non-GM soya for food and feed, could disappear.

Most soya is grown for animal feed but is also used in food for human consumption, including many processed foods, like ready meals, biscuits and chocolate.

Liz Snook of the Genetic Engineering Network said:

"This protest demonstrates that a broad spectrum of the public, from farmers to customers, want GM out of the food chain. Sainsbury's are in a position to deliver on their promise and stop selling GM-fed milk and meat. We hope they will listen to their customers' concerns and set a date by which they will get rid of GM animal feed, once and for all."

Friends of the Earth's GM Campaigner, Clare Oxborrow added:

"Customers will be concerned that Sainsbury's has failed to make good their promises to get rid of GM animal feed. The big supermarkets must act now to demand non-GM animal feed from their suppliers. If they don't, not only will they continue to deny consumers the right to choose food products from animals fed a non-GM diet, but they will threaten the availability of GM-free food ingredients in the future."

The protesters will raise the profile of the problem with the following series of events:

Monday 13th - Ladies from the Women's Institute will knit banners, hand out milk and biscuits, expressing concern about the lack of labelling for milk from GM-fed cows.

Tues 14th - A Samba band will accompany dancers in chocolate regalia in a demonstration of solidarity with Brazilian farmers, who are threatened by new legislation allowing the cultivation of GM soya in the country.

Wednesday 15th - Farmers, and a herd of pantomime cows, will point out the lack of liability legislation for GM crops and food. They will also remind Sainsbury's that poverty milk prices are stopping farmers making the choices they would like to about their animal feed, and causing 40 UK farms a week to go out of business.

Thursday 16th- Former Environment Minister Micheal Meacher, who oversaw the Government's GM crop trials, will be giving his unique inside insight into the regulatory problems associated with GM.

Friday 17th - Mums, dads, babies and kids will point out the long term safety concerns expressed by many families, and demand that milk from non-GM fed cows should be available as standard.

Notes:

[1] The event is organised by the Genetic Engineering Network and the Fair Price for GM free Milk Coalition, and supported by the National Federation of Women's' Institutes, Friends of the Earth, and the GM Freeze Campaign.

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