1.Kraft CEO Sees Nutrition Role for Biotech Foods
2.Kraft, Campbell accused of using GM ingredients on Chinese market
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1.Kraft CEO Sees Nutrition Role for Biotech Foods
K.T. Arasu
http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/29932/story.htm

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Kraft Foods Inc., which was at the center of a 2000 controversy over unapproved genetically modified corn finding its way into the food chain, on Monday said transgenic crops will gradually evolve to play an important role in nutrition and the environment.

"We believe that over time genetically modified ingredients will play a very important role both nutritionally and environmentally in terms of reduction of pesticide use around the world," Kraft Chief Executive Officer Roger Deromedi said. He was speaking at the Reuters Food Summit in Chicago.

In the fall of 2000, Kraft pulled its Taco Bell brand taco shells from shelves across the United States after it was found that genetically modified StarLink corn -- approved for use only as feed for animals -- had been used in making the products.

ConAgra Foods Inc., the country's second-largest food manufacturer, soon after suspended milling operations at its corn processing plant in Kansas while it tested its supplies for StarLink corn.

Azteca Milling, a distributor to Mission Foods and other food makers, stopped shipping and milling yellow corn in September 2000, and voluntarily recalled some corn products.

More than four years after the StarLink incident, South Korea, one of the world's largest importers of corn, still requires certification from suppliers that the corn it is buying to make food products does not contain StarLink corn.

Supporters of GMO technology say it will lower costs, increase yields, decrease the need for chemicals and help to feed a hungry world. Opponents are concerned about the health risks and the threat to the environment and say not enough studies have been done to prove it is safe and will not harm natural species.

Kraft's Deromedi said the food ingredients used by Kraft, the largest U.S. packaged food company, are well-documented on their safety to consumers in the United States.

"Our criteria is to use genetically modified ingredients driven by both safety and by consumers themselves," he said, adding that Kraft does not use ingredients from transgenic crops in its products marketed in Western Europe.

Consumers in Europe are the primary bastion of opposition to genetically modified crops, grown extensively in the United States, because of their concerns over potential health woes.

"We have a different consumer group in Europe, who feel differently about it," Deromedi said.

He said American consumers rely on the U.S. government to ensure the safety of genetically modified food ingredients, adding that it was not necessary for consumers to pay for the costs involved in ensuring the safety of such products.

One measure that has been touted is a so-called traceability rule, a process that will track the flow of grain from the farm to supermarket shelf -- something that can cost millions of dollars to implement in a country that produces billions of bushels of grain each year.

"I think they (consumers) have made the conclusion that given the safety of this ingredient, that they can rely on their government, that it is not necessary to pay this cost," Deromedi said.
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2.Kraft, Campbell accused of using GM ingredients on Chinese market
People's Daily, March 15
http://english.people.com.cn/200503/15/eng20050315_176851.html

Global environmental organization Greenpeace accused two world leading food producers, Kraft and Campbell, Monday of using genetically modified ingredients in their products sold in China.

An inspection on 28 foods, which was commissioned by Greenpeace earlier this year, found that the Ritz biscuit of Kraft Foods Inc.and the corn soup of the Campbell's Soup Company contained generically engineered soybean ingredients.

The result was released on the eve of the World Consumer Day.

Greenpeace campaigner Ma Tianjie said at a press release that the two food producers, who committed not to using GM ingredients in Europe, have failed to adopt the same discriminating standards in the China.

By adopting "double standards," Ma said, the two companies have violated Chinese consumers' rights of access to the information on foods they buy.

"Chinese consumers deserve the same rights and safety standards. It's irresponsible to consumers and will also tarnish their business credibility for the two companies to adopt double standards," Ma said.

The campaigner said that Greenpeace contacted the two companiesin investigation, but their responses were not satisfactory.

The current regulations on labeling of genetically modified organisms in China only stipulate that GM soybean, corn, rape, cotton and tomato, their seeds and food oil made of them must be labeled.

Kraft is the second largest food producer in the world and opened several ventures in China. Campbell is a leading soup provider in the world.