Greenpeace raises GM alert on top Indian foods

Posted by Greenpeace on 08 Sep 2009 under News and Blog

New Delhi, 8 September 2009: Food products of Nestlé, Cadbury, Kellogg, Britannia, and Safal are among a ‘red list’ in a guide on GM-free food released by Greenpeace here today. The ‘Safe Food Guide‘, is a first of its kind in India, and ranks 16 well-known food brands.

The guide comes at a time when the Union Government is in the verge of approving genetically modified Bt Brinjal. Following-Bt Brinjal, there are close to 40 other food crops, like rice, tomato, mustard, and potato, which the government may approve.

“The safety of GE crops as a foodstuff for animals and humans is unknown and the testing regimes are inadequate. Studies on laboratory animals (rats) have pointed out potential health risks, including allergies, abnormal growth of organs such as liver and kidney and many unpredictable effects. Therefore, this guide has an important role to inform consumers,” Jai Krishna of Greenpeace India said while releasing the guide.

The guide also comes in a pocket-sized version and lists companies based on their responses to Greenpeace. Companies like MTR, Dabur, Haldiram’s, ITC Foods, PepsiCo India, and Ruchi Soya are in the ‘green list’ based on their stand that their products are GM-free as of today.

In the ‘red list’ are Nestlé, Hindustan Unilever, Kellogg, Cadbury, Agro Tech Foods Ltd, FieldFresh Foods Pvt Ltd (a unit of Bharti Enterprises), Bambino Agro Industries Ltd, Britannia Industries Ltd, Godrej Hershey Foods, Parle, and Safal.

Bejon Misra, Managing Trustee, Healthy You Foundation, received the first copy of the guide.”“It is an excellent tool for the consumers to become aware about GMO’s and this initiative by Greenpeace has brought these positions of food brands in the open. This would empower consumers to make an informed choice,” Misra said.

Greenpeace demands that:
i) food businesses adopt a no-GM policy, because of the risks to health and environment, and
ii) take proactive steps to inform consumers about the presence or absence of GM ingredients in their products.

For more information:
Syed Mehaboob, Communications Officer syed.mehaboob@greenpeace.org 097313 01983

Notes to the Editor:
1. Genetically modified foods are manufactured by inserting genes from unrelated organisms into food plants like vegetables and rice. They are unnatural and unpredictable, and can cause irreversible contamination. Many governments have avoided approval of such foods. As of 2008, about two and a half percent of the world’s arable land is under GM crops.

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