Make my sandwich GE-free
The Green Party has renewed its call for proper labelling of food ingredients, in the wake of the Subway sandwich GE
scandal.
Subway New Zealand has now admitted that the same GE enzyme that has caused 120 Subway stores to be closed in Japan is
present in the dough it uses in this country.
"New Zealand consumers have a right to know what they're eating," Green Co-Leader Jeanette Fitzsimons said today. "It
shouldn't matter whether it's a loaf of bread from the supermarket, a snack on an Air New Zealand flight or a sandwich
from their local takeaway: we have a right to know.
"The latest TV3/NFO poll found more than 70 per cent of New Zealanders were concerned about eating GE food. It's not
good enough for the Environment Minister to arrogantly dismiss their concerns and to hint at some sort of conspiracy
against her, with her 'I'm beginning to smell something' comment this morning.
"The only thing that stinks around here is the contempt with which New Zealand consumers are being treated by the Labour
Government.
"Marion Hobbs might dismiss an enzyme as being too insignificant to warrant labelling but one has only to look at the
L-tryptophan scandal in the US to get an idea of the risks of GE-derived food additives."
The genetically engineered L-tryptophan was used in a dietary supplement that resulted in an epidemic of
eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome (EMS) that infected up to 10,000 people and killed at least 80.
"No one is suggesting that the GE enzyme used by Subway is a potential killer," Ms Fitzsimons said. "The point is that
all food products that contain even a trace of a GE ingredient should be labelled. That way, consumers can assess the
risks and make their own choice.
"In the meantime, Subway should take a leaf from its Japanese operation and request Yarrows to supply it with GE-free
dough."
Green MP, Sue Kedgley has drafted a private member's bill, the Consumer Right to Know (Food Information) Bill, based on
the strict new GE labelling laws adopted by the European Union.