GMWATCH: TAKE ACTION!

Today's World Consumer Rights Day which makes it the perfect time for consumers in the European Union to demand labelling of all products produced via GM animal feed. And two recent developments have made it vital that we renew the call for supermarkets to ban GM animal feed from their meat, fish, eggs, and dairy product lines.

First, a recent report commissioned by the UK Government's Food Standards Agency (FSA), that explored consumer attitudes to GM foods, found a broad consensus among consumers that labels should flag products produced using animals fed GM animal feed: http://www.gmwatch.org/latest-listing/1-news-items/11761-science-favours-emotional-gm-opponents
http://bit.ly/6MUHRv

Currently, such products do not have to be labelled denying consumers' their right to know and make informed choices about the food they buy for themselves and their families.

The biotech industry has successfully lobbied to avoid such labelling being made mandatory in the past by maintaining that animals fed on GM feed are no different from those reared using non-GM feed.

But a comprehensive new review of the scientific literature by Professor Jack Heinemann (see his conclusions below) has undermined this claim.

Supermarkets have largely followed the industry's reasoning in their refusal to implement a GM-free policy for all their meat, eggs and dairy production, even though they are fully aware of consumer demand for GM-free products.

While labelling should be made available purely on the basis of transparency and the consumer's right to choose, Heinemann's review shows that GM components fed to farm animals do enter the animal and animal product food chain - and that GM-fed animals ARE different from non-GM fed ones.

TAKE ACTION: WRITE TO SUPERMARKETS

We are asking everyone in the UK and the rest of Europe to please TAKE ACTION on this vitally important issue.

Please write to the supermarkets to ask them to ban GM animal feed from their meat, fish, eggs, and dairy product lines. The UK supermarkets' addresses are at the end of this email.

Sample points to make in your letter (please use your own words as far as possible):

*The recent FSA-commissioned report, compiled by independent researchers at the National Centre for Social Research, that explored consumer attitudes to GM foods, found a broad consensus among consumers that labels should flag products produced using animals fed GM animal feed, which do not currently have to be labeled: http://www.gmwatch.org/latest-listing/1-news-items/11761-science-favours-emotional-gm-opponents

*Studies cited in Heinemann's report show that animals that consume GM feed can react in a way that is unique to an exposure to GM plants, as revealed through metabolic, physiological or immunological responses: http://www.biosafety-info.net/file_dir/16329274254b0b792716b0f.pdf

*Studies cited in Heinemann's report show that GM plant material can transfer to animals exposed to GM feed in their diets or environment, and there can be a difference in animals or animal products as a result of exposure to GM feed: http://www.biosafety-info.net/file_dir/16329274254b0b792716b0f.pdf

*Studies cited in Heinemann’s report show we can't assume that raising an animal on GM feed will not affect the final product even if there is no detectable residue from the GM material: http://www.biosafety-info.net/file_dir/16329274254b0b792716b0f.pdf

*Please ensure that your suppliers of meat, eggs and dairy products feed their livestock only non-GM animal feed. If you have ranges of meat, eggs and dairy that are fed on non-GM feed, please let me know which these are and label these ranges clearly as "GM Free".

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PROF HEINEMANN'S CONCLUSIONS

"There is substantial literature that reports the detection of DNA and protein unique to GM plants within animals and animal products. Based on studies, it is not possible to conclude that animals and derived products are free of GM material when they have been exposed to GM plants through i) feeding, ii) proximity to other animals on GM feed, or iii) subsequent processing. The most consistent finding in the literature is that animals not exposed to GM feed were unlikely to be contaminated with GM material.

"There is compelling evidence that animals provided with feed containing GM ingredients can react in a way that is unique to an exposure to GM plants. This is revealed through metabolic, physiological or immunological responses in exposed animals. In the absence of appropriate testing, we can't assume that raising an animal on GM feed will not affect the final product even if there is no detectable residue from the GM material.

"The cumulative strength of positive detections reviewed in studies leave no unreasonable uncertainty that GM plant material can transfer to animals exposed to GM feed in their diets or environment, and that there can be a residual difference in animals or animal products as a result of exposure to GM feed."

Study details: Report on animals exposed to GM ingredients in animal feed
Prepared for the Commerce Commission of New Zealand by Professor Jack A.Heinemann, PhD, 24 July 2009
http://www.biosafety-info.net/file_dir/16329274254b0b792716b0f.pdf
http://www.gefree.co.nz/pdf/GMexposedAnimalsReport2009.pdf
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UK SUPERMARKET ADDRESSES

ALDI
The Chairman
Aldi Stores
Holly Lane, Atherstone
Warwickshire CV9 2SQ
www.aldi.co.uk
customer services
no email, telephone 0844 406 8800

ASDA
The Chairman
Asda Stores, ASDA House
South Bank, Great Wilson St
Leeds LS11 5AD
www.asda.co.uk
customer services
email from your.asda.com/section-contact-asda or telephone 0844 481 5000

BOOTHS
The Chairman
Edwin Booth
Booths Supermarkets
Longridge Road
Ribbleton, Preston
PR2 5BX

BUDGENS
www.budgens.co.uk
customer services
email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or telephone 0800 298 0758

CO-OP
The Chief Executive
The Co-operative Group
New Century House
Manchester M60 4ES
www.co-operative.coop/food
customer services
email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or telephone 0800 0686 727

ICELAND
The Chief Executive,
Iceland Foods Ltd., Second Ave.,
Deeside Industrial Park, Deeside,
Flintshire CH5 2NW
www.iceland.co.uk
customer services
email from www.iceland.co.uk/feedback or telephone 01244 842842
 
LIDL
www.lidl.co.uk    
customer services
email from www.lidl.co.uk/uk/home.nsf/pages/c.service.c.Customer_Services.form.index or telephone 0870 444 1234

MARKS AND SPENCER
The Chairman
Marks & Spencer
Chester Business Park
Wrexham Road
Chester CH4 9GA
www.marks-and-spencer.co.uk
customer services
email from www.marksandspencer.com/gp/contact/actions/subject-form-actions.html/277-2478503-0468004?ie=UTF8&mnSBrand=core or telephone 0845 609 0200

MORRISONS
The Chairman
Wm Morrison Supermarkets Plc,
Hilmore House, Gain Lane
Bradford BD3 7DL
www.morrisons.co.uk  
customer services
no email, telephone 0845 611 6111

NETTO
www.netto.co.uk  
customer services
no email, telephone 0845 6000200

SAINSBURY
The Chairman
Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd
33 Holborn
London EC1N 2HT
www.sainsbury.co.uk
customer services
email from www.sainsburys.co.uk/sol/contact_us/contact_us.jsp# or telephone 0800 636 262

TESCO
The Chairman,
Tesco Stores, Tesco House,
Delamare Rd, Cheshunt,
Herts EN8 9SL
www.tesco.co.uk
customer services
no email, telephone 0845 7225533

WAITROSE
Waitrose Limited
Doncastle Road
Bracknell
Berkshire RG12 8YA
www.waitrose.com
customer services
email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or telephone 0800 188 884