Müller tries to gag Greenpeace

After months of actions organised by our activists against the diary giant Müller, Greenpeace Germany was yesterday informed that Theo Müller GmbH & CO has applied to the courts for an injunction to stop us campaigning against the company's GE milk.

The application for the injunction will be heard on 9 June in Cologne's regional court.

"Müller is trying to stop Greenpeace telling the truth and to censor consumer education. The majority of consumers reject GMOs in animal feed and feeding the animals on GE crops," said Ulrike Brendel, our GE campaigner in Germany. "Müller must make more of an effort to ensure its dairy cows are not fed on GE feed"

In its complaint to the court, Mueller, which also owns the brands Weihenstephan and Saxonia milk, does not deny that it feeds its dairy cattle GE feed. However, Müller wants to use the legal system to make Greenpeace remove any information on Mueller's GE milk from public circulation.

This means that amongst other things, our website www.muell-milch.de which parodies the Müller advertisement would be prohibited. Identifying Müller products in supermarkets with warnings such as "GE milk: Don't touch!" and other slogans for GE animal feed would also be banned.

"Naturally, our slogans are provocative and poke fun at Mueller's expensive advertising campaign for its milk. But it is satire and does not warrant an injunction," explains Brendel.

In its request for the injunction, Müller maintains that GE free animal feed for its dairy cattle is not possible. This statement is incorrect. Manufacturers of animal feed offer sufficient quantities of GE-free animal feed to fulfil its needs. Numerous other enterprises in Germany including Wiesenhof, Ritter Sport and Du Darfst/Unilever, already give their customers a guarantee that their animal products are GE free.

Get Involved!

- Call our German Hotline (040-3899 8080) to voice your opinion against GE feed used in the production of milk. Consumers can also protest on line at www.muell-milch.de

- Read our story: Müller takes a hit

- Find out about how Gourmet chefs and Greenpeace cook to combat GE

- Read about our Cowcar and its activities

- Find out about more German actions.

- 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.

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