-Caveat Lector- Wednesday, April 28, 1999 Published at 15:19 GMT 16:19 UK GM food policy to stay Food for thought: Scientific opinion is split on GM products Government policy on genetically-modified food will not change, despite the decision by supermarket chain Tesco to withdraw stocks containing GM products, the Prime Minister has said. Tony Blair told the House of Commons the argument should be conducted "on science, not scares". He said Tesco itself admitted it is withdrawing GM foods not because of safety concerns, but for commercial reasons. Mr Blair said no crops or food were available unless they had been properly tested, and there is "no evidence" that GM foods are unsafe. On Wednesday, Tesco fell in line behind Sainsbury's, Asda, Safeway and Iceland, which have banned GM ingredients from their own-label foods. Tesco, the UK's biggest supermarket chain, had previously refused to bow to pressure to issue a ban on GM ingredients in its own-brand products, saying competitors' claims they could achieve totally GM-free status were open to question. For instance, American soya producers have been unable to guarantee GM-free food because GM and non-GM soya are mixed at source. However, Tesco said that a recent survey of customers had confirmed that one in four shoppers wanted GM material removed from its shelves. As a result, the company vowed to remove the material from all products where it was practical to do so. Tesco spokesman David Sawday told the BBC why it had taken Tesco so long to follow the other supermarkets. "We have been watching very carefully what our customers have been saying through our focus groups and research and it has not really been until late Febuary/March that there has been a significant shift in opinion on genetically-modified organisms." Meanwhile, Anglo-Dutch consumer products group Unilever said its Birds Eye Wall's and Van den Bergh subsidiaries will remove GM ingredients from their products including burgers, fish fingers and ready meals. However, Gavin Neath, chairman of Van den Burgh Foods, said the decision did not change the company's long-held belief in the potential of biotechnology, including the genetic modification of food ingredients. Some scientists fear GM crops could threaten biodiversity and even inflict genetic damage on animals and humans. But others believe the dangers are exaggerated, saying the possible benefits of pest-resistant plants that are cheaper, more nutritious and tastier - as well as having higher crop yields - outweigh any drawbacks. However, Friends of the Earth food campaigner Pete Riley welcomed the Unilever move. "These (GM) foods are untested and are being rushed on to the market against public opinion. "This is a victory for consumer pressure and we would call on other major food manufacturers to now follow suit." Consumer demand is forcing change in supermarkets Sainsbury's and Marks & Spencer has joined a seven-strong Europe-wide consortium of food sellers and producers to buy non-GM products. And they received a major boost on Wednesday when the world's leading soya protein supplier, Protein Technologies International (PTI), pledged to meet any level of UK and European demand for GM-free soya. PTI's managing director for Europe, Richard Brown, said: "We have now secured sufficient production of guaranteed non-GM soybeans to supply all of Europe's food demands for non-GM soy protein. "We firmly believe that our customers, and thus consumers, should have a choice between GM and non-GM soya." The growing rejection of GM foods in Europe is threatening a new trade war with America, where virtually all soya grown is expected to be of the GM variety within a year. US Agriculture Under-secretary Gus Schumacher warned at the weekend that America would take action if Europe "continued to drag its feet" in approving GM foods. http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/business/newsid_330000/330210.stm DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
