GM Feed latest

Edwardia

Last year, DEFRA confirmed to me in a phone call, that under EU regulations, supermarkets are NOT obliged to inform customers whn they are buying products from animals and poultry fed on GM feed or crops. That includes meat, poultry, eggs, milk, cheese and yogurt as well as processed food.

Producers, manufacturers and supermarkets only need to label GM ingredients directly on our food eg GM tomato paste.

Back in 2010 ASDA took the decision to allow poultry farmers to feed GM feed even though UK consumers overwhelmingly don't want it. In 2012, Morrisons did the same. On 11th April last week Tesco announced that it would do this also and Sainsbury's followed the following day.

On 12th April Marks & Spencer went further, allowing farmers to feed GM feed to all animals in their fresh meat ranges.

The Co-operative confirmed to The Grocer on 12 April that it no longer guarantees that own brand chicken and turkey has been fed on non GM feed.

In a poll conducted by The Grocer, less than 4% of consumers trusted retailers to tell the truth about GM technology.

In research conducted by the Food Safety Agency 2/3rds of UK consumers are against GM in their food.

I'm not posting to get into a debate about the pros or cons of GM. I just want MSErs to be aware:

• the regulations are already in place to allow you to be sold food from animals and poultry fed on GM
• that only Waitrose now insists that all animals and poultry for own brand non-organic food are fed on non GM feed
• organic food cannot contain GM even as something fed to animals and poultry under current certification regulations
• though governments across the world are largely pro GM to some degree, consumers overwhelmingly are not
• that over 90% of the world's supply of maize (corn) and soya is now GM

As I say I'm just wanting MSErs to be aware because these things won't be labelled and the probability is that few if any supermarkets will be sticking up posters or handing out leaflets saying we will be allowing farmers to feed GM feed.

It appears also that the decision is being taken (certainly by Sainsbury's) to allow GM feed for cheaper ranges of eggs but not Taste The Difference. So again, they are perhaps (for individuals to decide) putting health at risk unless you can afford to buy more expensive products.

With M&S it seems it doesn't matter how expensive that fresh meat is, if it's not organic it can be fed on GM feed.

www.thegrocer.co.uk/fmcg/fresh/sainsburys-ms-and-the-co-op-follow-tescos-lead-on-gm-feed/238400.article#.UW29hMolLNM

http://www.thegrocer.co.uk/fmcg/fresh/tesco-drops-resistance-to-gm-feed-for-poultry/238397.article#.UW3FL8olLNM

http://www.thegrocer.co.uk/topics/consumers-dont-trust-supermarkets-on-gm-food-poll-finds/238401.article#.UW3FZcolLNM

http://www.thegrocer.co.uk/topics/environment/fsa-study-sees-consumer-demand-for-gm-feed-labelling/235350.article#.UW3FlcolLNM

The Grocer is the trade magazine for supermarkets and convenience stores.

Kirri

Very disappointing move especially from M&S.

KxMx

It's useful to have this information but it won't change anything for me.

Most crops have been modified hugely over time, these are not the first GM frankencrops which are going to destroy the world as opponents suggest they are merely the latest phase of development. Wheat for example grown 50 years ago is not exactly the same as is grown now. Many people do not seem to realise this.

I seem to remember produce from cloned animals (without informing consumers) was seriously mooted at one point- now there is something I would not touch with a bargepole.

Lugh_Chronain

I agree with KxMx in the first point, and as Elmer Fudd once said, it's inevitable.

And I've said it once before and I'll say it again, and as an example, what's the difference between grops sprayed with BT spray and GM foods that are crossed with BT? Organic farmers use BT spray (BT is a ‘natural’ pesticide made by the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis), yet they often demonise the genetically modified cotton crops that carry an inbuilt supply of BT, and which therefore require less spraying.

Cotton farmers in India have reduced their use of pesticides and accidental poisonings by 80% since the introduction of genetically modified BT cotton.

However, I'm not comfortable with what appears to be lack of consumer choice. There does however need to be more debate on this subject though I don't think you can really have a proper debate without choice.

Incidentally, I'm not necessarily an advocate of GM all the same, just think people should be allowed to debate it rationally and fairly albeit an emotive one.

judexx

Edwardia - many thanks for taking the time to post this - I had no idea of this change in policy.

alandbailey

I have 11 ducks and 17 chickens/bantams in my back garden. I feed them non-GM layer pellets from Mole Valley Farmers plus white bread, corn and lettuce/greens. They are all happy and healthy - and their eggs are delicious!:D

Edwardia

I think myself this is more about the cheaper price of commercial GM feed rather than unavailability.