GM FREEZE

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Write to the supermarkets and ask them to protect our right to choose non-GM food

The Problem

In 2000 all the major supermarkets made commitments to phase out the use of GM feed for the animals which produce their meat and dairy products, but tonnes of GM animal feed are still being shipped in to the UK to feed the animals that supply milk in most stores.

The progress towards removing GM feed from the supply lines of the major supermarkets has been slow and patchy. Fresh poultry is currently the most reliable for being GM-free and processed food the worst. Marks and Spencer have done the most to remove GM feed, including from fresh milk supplies, but even their policy does not extend to dry milk, eggs, cheese and meat used in processed foods. It always pays to check directly with the supermarket before you buy if you wish to avoid supporting the GM industry.

Pressure from the public has ensured that there are virtually no GM ingredients in human food on supermarket shelves. Many processed foods contain non-GM soya which has been bought from Brazil, which until recently was a reliable source of non-GM crops. However, a change to Brazilian law means that from now on many larger farms may start growing GM instead. GM Freeze is concerned both about the erosion of a non-GM choice, but also the other problems associated with our dependence on industrial soya (like forest destruction and human rights violations).

Eighty per cent of the soya grown in Brazil goes to animal feed. Soya grown for animal feed is also the source of products such as soya oil and lecithin used in human food. An expansion of GM soya could leave us with little or no non-GM soya for animal feed or biscuits, chocolate and many other foods.

Farmers in Brazil have to decide whether to plant GM or non-GM soya. The supermarkets need to place firm orders for animal products fed on a non-GM diet to ensure that the farmers choose to plant non-GM soya.

What you can do
Please write to supermarkets and explain that you want animal products like milk to be non-GM fed as standard, ask for a deadline by which they intend to implement this and labels in the meantime that show which products are already fed a non-GM diet.

Aldi: Paul Foley, Managing Director UK and Ireland, Holly Lane, Atherstone, Warwickshire CV9 2SQ

ASDA: Andy Bond, Chief Executive, Asda House, South Bank Great Wilson Street, Leeds LS11 5AD

Budgens: Chris Martin, Chief Executive Officer, Musgrove House, Widewater Place, Moorhall Road, Harefield, Middlesex UB9 6NS

The Co-op: Guy McCracken, Chief Executive Food Retail, The Co-operative Group, New Century House, Manchester M60 6ns

Iceland: Malcolm Walker, Chief Executive, Second Avenue, Deeside Industrial Park, Deeside, Flintshire CH5 2NW

Lidl: Tony Parker, UK Director, 19 Worple Road London SW19 4JS

Marks and Spencer: Stuart Rose, Chief Executive, Waterside House, 35 North Wharf Road, London, W2 1NW

Morrison’s: Mark Bolland, Chief Executive Officer, Hilmore House, Gain Lane, Bradford BD3 7DL

Netto: Richard Lancaster, UK Managing Director, Elmsall Way, South Elmsall, Near Pontefract WF9 2XX

Sainsbury’s: Justin King, Chief Executive, 33 Holborn, London EC1N 2HT

Tesco: Sir Terry Leahy, Chief Executive, New Tesco House, Delamare Road, Cheshunt, Hertforshire EN8 9SL

Waitrose: Mark Price, Managing Director, Waitrose Central Offices, Southern Industrial Area, Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 8YA

Last updated 22/02/2010