Greenpeace today launched a new online consumer guide to help shoppers find out whether the foods they are buying really are non-GM. The guide covers a wide range of food, including top brands as well as supermarket own brands. It highlights whether companies have a policy of avoiding derivatives of GM crops, such as GM soya oil, and whether their dairy and meat products come from animals fed on genetically modified crops.

The guide is launched as new evidence raised questions about the advisability of feeding animals with GM crops. Recent studies for the Advisory Committee on Animal Feedstuffs (ACAF) found that, contrary to their expectations, DNA from plants survives feed processing and shows up in animal feed. Scientists on the Committee 'expressed surprise' and called for more studies to follow up the findings.

This finding contradicts advice given to Ministers and statements issued by companies. Both have said that no scientific evidence exists that DNA would survive feed processing and so go on to affect animal health or product safety.

Andy Tait of Greenpeace said, "It is beyond belief that, even in the wake of the BSE crisis, comprehensive and independent research into the potential for GM to survive feed processing and cross into the guts of animals was not done before these crops were allowed to market".

"If this can occur with crops like Bt maize, which contains a gene for antibiotic resistance, then this is incredibly serious, as it could lead to the loss of some incredibly valuable medicines".

"In the short term immediate steps must be taken to stop the importation of GM crops from the U.S for use in animal feed. Forcing unlabelled and inadequately tested GM feed on to farmers and consumers is completely irresponsible".

Outlining the new 'Greenpeace Consumer Guide to GM' Emma Gibson of Greenpeace explained, "At the moment, people who don't want GM in the foodchain, because of ethical, environmental or health concerns, simply cant tell if they are being fed GM derivatives, or if GM crops are being used to feed the animals that produce their eggs, cheese and meat".

"That is why we have launched this guide. It will expose the GM which is being hidden from us and provide advice for people who want to avoid it. The public have a right to know and the right to say no to GM."

A recent NOP poll commissioned by Greenpeace this September found that more than two thirds of the British public didn't want farm animals to be fed GM crops. An overwhelming 90% wanted products from animals fed on GM crops to be clearly labelled.

Yet despite this, over one million tonnes of GM soya and maize are still being imported to the UK most of which goes straight into animal feed. This is then sold on, unlabelled, to farmers and can constitute up to 30% of the diet of animals that produce our milk, cheese, eggs, fish and meat.

The Greenpeace guide will list over a thousand products. Top food brands will be coded red if they are positive for GM, yellow if companies or products currently use GM in animal feed but are committed to removing it, and green for products that are non-GM.

Further information:
Contact:
Greenpeace press office on: 020 7865 8255