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Saturday, July 24, 1999
Sydney Morning Herald (Australia)Genetic food:
you're eating it
Popular Australian snacks such as Mars Bars, Maltesers and MMs, and Heinz
Chicken Dinner, all contain ingredients from genetically modified crops.
Manufacturers have confirmed that so do Heinz Banana Custard, Homai Cocktail Spring Rolls,
Kikkoman Teriyaki Marinade, Kikkoman Soy Sauce, Snickers, Dove Caramel, Sanitarium Country
Spiced Soy Burger, Sanitarium Soy Healthy Spiced Soy Fillets and some Nestlé frozen
products.
But the manufacturers of dozens of leading brands - such as Arnott's, Bird's
Eye, Buttercup, Continental, Flora, John West, Meadow Lea, Pampas, Uncle
Toby's, Watties, Westons and White Wings - can't say whether or not their
products come from GM sources.
Neither Kraft, maker of Vegemite, nor Ferrero Australasia, whose products
include Nutella and Kinder Surprise, would say whether they had audited
their products for GM ingredientsand whether their products contained GM
material.
The industry's inability or reluctance comes despite its knowledge that
dozens of ingredients and additives in food come from plants of which there
are varieties which have been genetically modified - namely soy, corn,
canola and potato - and have done so since 1996.
And it comes at a time of fierce debate over the safety of GM foods, of
increasing European-United States trade tensions over the issue which could
eventually involve Australia, of the rapid expansion of gene technology into
agriculture, and of environmental concerns over the effects of GM crops.
Some companies, such as Arnott's and Goodman Fielder (owner of brands
including Uncle Toby's, Meadow Lea, White Wings, Buttercup and Quality
Bakers Australia), have not yet completed exhaustive audits of all the
sources of their ingredients.
Other companies, such as George Weston Foods, Nestlé and Unilever (with
brands including Continental Brand Foods, Florafoods, John West Foods and
Rosella), have completed their audits but still cannot provide definitive
information on whether some of their products contain GM material.
Many in the industry argue that establishing sources for all products is
extremely difficult and time-consuming. Others have traced the sources and
changed suppliers where necessary, with Master Foods Australia and Cadbury
Schweppes declaring themselves GM-free.
A six-week Herald investigation reveals that GM foods have penetrated deeply
into Australian supermarkets, shopping trolleys and kitchens.
Yet none of the groceries which either do contain or may contain GM material
is required to be labelled under present regulations, with which all
manufacturers say they comply.
These regulations, which say GM ingredients need to be labelled only if they
are substantially different from the standard crops, are to be reviewedby a
meeting of Australian and New Zealand health ministersin Canberra on August 3.
The food industry argues that the present legislation is adequate. Consumer
groups say the food standard should be changed to ensure that all components
which come from a GM crop are acknowledged on the label.
While the industry argues that comprehensive labelling is not required, and
that GM foods are safe, many manufacturers are ridding themselvesof GM
ingredients.
HJ Heinz, Mars Confectionery of Australia and the Sanitarium Health Food
Company said they would be using only non-GM supplies within months. The
main sources of GM ingredients in Australian food are soybeans from the US
and Argentina, canola from Canada, and Australian cottonseed oil, an
ingredient in many vegetable oils.
US soybeans are the centre of fierce trade battles with Europe. Many
European nations, and others such as Brazil, have declared that they do not
want to import any GM crops.
But the US is pushing these nations to import GM crops, citing World Trade
Organisation obligations for free trade to support its case.
Australian trade has benefited so far by being free of GM crops, with our
canola exports rising significantly.
But any decision the health ministers make on August 3 may affect that result. |