Nestle NZ defer to Australia to defend their use of GE ingredients in food
Auckland, New Zealand, 30 March 2000.
In response to Greenpeace’s invitation to Nestle New Zealand – to make a commitment to remove genetically engineered
ingredients from their food products - Nestle has refused to offer to New Zealand consumers what Nestle consumers
currently enjoy in other parts of the world.
Six other Nestle subsidiaries, in the UK, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany and Hong Kong, have committed to removing
genetically engineered ingredients from their products in the past year. But today Nestle New Zealand refused to follow
the common sense of these other subsidiaries, instead deferring to their Australian office to deal with the concerns
raised by Greenpeace.
“The reality of the matter is that we found one of Nestle’s products, Carnation Instant Soy Drink, was contaminated with
Monsanto’s genetically engineered Roundup Ready soya beans. Nestle have today refused to recognise that consumers
neither want nor need genetically engineered ingredients in their food – unlike many of their international
counterparts” said Carl Reller, GE campaigner for Greenpeace New Zealand.
“We cannot accept the irreversible release of genetically engineered crops, for which both the environment and consumer
bear the risk without benefit” continued Reller.
“Nestle has guaranteed it will rid its food products of genetically engineered ingredients in Austria, France, Germany,
Belgium, the United Kingdom and Hong Kong over the past year. But at the same time they are still supplying GE food to
New Zealanders. This is unacceptable to consumers in New Zealand. GE food is not wanted and not needed” he said.
“Today we revealed that at least one of Nestle’s products is contaminated with GE ingredients. Tomorrow, consumers can
let Nestle know that they don’t want to eat GE foods by phoning Nestle on freephone 0800 830 840, and asking for Nestle
NZ to commit to going GE free”, continues Reller.
ENDS
For further information, contact Carl Reller, Greenpeace GE Campaigner, on +64 21-52-3344 or +64 9-630-6317