Peter Melchett, the Soil Association's Policy Director said: "The public does not want GM food and the food industry continues to struggle to keep GM out of products. If GM crops are grown in this country, we will see more contamination problems and consumers will be faced with higher costs to stay GM-free."
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Soil Association response to GM contamination research
Press release: 5 February 2004

Research by Professor Murphy of the University of Glamorgan tested 25 soya products for the presence of GM Soya (Round up Ready Soya). Ten out of the 25 products tested (40%) gave positive results. Five of the ten containing GM soya were organic, of which one is certified by Soil Association Certification Ltd (SACert).  This was Organic Soya Flour bought in Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire, in September. The level detected was just above the detection limit of 0.1%

The Soil Association contacted Professor Murphy to obtain details of the products tested, so that these could be made public. SACert will work with the manufacturer to identify the source of the GM material in the products tested, and will then take steps to further improve systems to eliminate the problem.

SACert found GM contamination in organic animal feed 18 months ago and the findings were made public at the time. As a result, we are drawing up a protocol with key parts of the organic food industry to keep organic animal food free of GM.

Peter Melchett, the Soil Association’s Policy Director said: "The Government appears to be about to allow GM maize to be grown in the UK - these plans must be scrapped.

"The public does not want GM food and the food industry continues to struggle to keep GM out of products. If GM crops are grown in this country, we will see more contamination problems and consumers will be faced with higher costs to stay GM-free."

The Soil Association and many other organisations and experts on the Government's Organic Action Plan Group are calling on the entire food industry to aim for 0.1% (surrogate zero) GM contamination - the lowest reliable and repeatable level of detection - at every stage in the food chain.

For media enquiries contact the Press Office on 0117 914 2448.
www.soilassociation.org
Issued05/02/2004