Auckland, Tuesday 14 May. To mark the launch of the new GE Free Food Guide, Greenpeace will visit supermarkets in
Auckland, Manukau, North Shore and Waitakere, to hand out organic apples and the third edition of the Guide.
“Customers choosing GE free food close down the market for GE ingredients,” said Annette Cotter, Greenpeace GE
campaigner.
“The rejection of genetic engineering in our food starts in the kitchen and the supermarket, and ends with the food
chain being free of genetic contamination.
“The guide is doing what the Australia New Zealand Food Authority (ANZFA) regulations have failed to do – it tells you
what is and isn’t genetically engineered in our food.
“The companies that haven’t removed GE will be running to catch up because nobody wants to eat it.”
So far 55,000 copies of the Guide have been distributed to the public including
15, 000 downloaded from the web.
Some of the major shifts in the new GE Free Food Guide include: Unilever Australasia, Heinz Watties, Tegel and
Arnotts/Campbells. Cerebos Greggs is in the final stages of removing GE from their food.
Greenpeace will be at the following supermarkets at the following times:
10am Auckland City Pak ‘n Save, Royal Oak, 691 Manakau Rd
11.30 South Auckland Pak ‘n Save, Manakau, 67 Cavendish Dr
1pm West Auckland Woolworths, Te Atatu, 583 Te Atatu Rd
2.30 North Shore Woolworths, Northcote, Pearn Cres
Greenpeace will also web-launch the guide via its website http://www.gefreefood.org.nz.
The GE Free Food Guide outlines company positions on genetic engineering. The companies are colour coded according to
their policy on the use of GE ingredients and derivatives.
The green category contains companies that are not using GE originated plant and animal ingredients. This includes a
policy of no GE animal feed. This criteria goes beyond the labelling regulations (ANZFA). Also included are certified
organic products - the best guarantee of GE free.
Companies who have committed to removing GE originated plant and animal ingredients and are in the process of doing so
are classified as orange.
The red category is companies that have no clear policy of removing GE originated ingredients. This category can include
companies that did not respond adequately to our enquiries.
Contact: Annette Cotter 021 565 175 or Brendan Lynch 021 790 817