European consumers prepare to reject GE food

As of this weekend shoppers will be able to clearly identify which food contains genetically engineered (GE) ingredients as the EU rules on labelling come into effect; although this will boost consumer rejection this legislation is far from perfect.

The new EU rules mean that as of this Sunday shoppers can easily reject products containing GE ingredients. However there is a loophole in the law that allows meat and dairy products from animals reared on a diet of GE feed to be sold without a label to this effect.

For consumer choice to be meaningful, meat and dairy products from animals fed with GE feed must be labelled too. Some 80 percent of the current worldwide GE crops are used in animal feed. Since the new EU rules and a traceability system in place require the animal feed itself to be labelled, there is no excuse to exclude meat and dairy products from the requirements.

Luckily very few food items in Europe contain GE ingredients, thanks to massive consumer opposition. With the help of the public, we will closely monitor the situation through our Trolley Watch to ensure that the European food market remains closed to GE products.

"We are confident that European food companies and retailers will have the wisdom to keep on shunning GE food," said our consumer campaigner Martina Holbach. "Should food producers or retailers be tempted to test the resolve of consumer opposition to GE food, we are more than ready and believe we have the tools and consumer support to force such products off the market."

Public stances against the products are already beginning. The largest German supermarket chain Edeka, with the help of our 'Gene Detectives' is conducting consumer education to identify GE products. Edeka has made clear commitments to avoid GE ingredients in their own brand products.

Since the beginning of April, 'Gene Detectives' have visited supermarkets in 40 cities across Germany to check for GE labelled produce. Food brands from over 400 companies are listed in the latest edition of the German Consumer Guide to assist the consumer in avoiding GE products. Almost one million copies of the consumer guide have been distributed.

More information

- Want to get involved in our Trolley Watch? Click here to see how you can help.

- Check out what is happening in your country

- For more information about the implications of the new EU labelling and traceability rules read this.

- Read our press release

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