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GM Free Chefs Charter
For the first time, genetically modified (GM) food crops will be grown in Australia. From May 2008 in New South Wales and Victoria, GM canola will be grown commercially and will enter our food supply.
As chefs and restaurateurs we aim to protect the quality, diversity and the flavour of food we serve. To do so we need to be positive that what we put on plates represents the best Australia has to offer. To do otherwise is to risk not only the well being of our clientele, but also the well being of our nation.
Because of the untested long-term risks associated with the growing and consumption of GM foods, we are strongly opposed to serving them – or ingredients derived from GM products – in our restaurants.
Statistics reveal that the majority of Australians do not want to eat GM foods and over recent years we have seen our customers’ growing concern about the origins, ethical treatment and corporate control of food.
Canola is used in an extensive number of food products, ranging from breakfast cereals to oil and margarine to bread. Once GM canola is grown on Australian soil, it will find its way into our diet as canola oil and meal. Even worse, we will not know that we are eating food that contains GM canola, because under current laws it will remain unlabelled.
In the US and the EU, and across the world the great growth area is in clean, green food products. We believe that it is not wise to give up our global, unrestricted GM free marketing advantage, particularly when the long term implications of GM food manufacture and consumption are not yet known.
Only two state governments, New South Wales and Victoria, have lifted their moratoria on growing GM canola – all other canola growing states have committed to maintaining their moratoria on environmental, health and economic grounds. We encourage the New South Wales and Victorian governments to join the other states and reverse their position for the benefit of the nation.
In the meantime, it is imperative that the federal government legislates for the labelling of all GM foods and food products derived through GM. This is essential so that Australians can make clear decisions about whether to buy GM free ingredients or not. The labelling should include all vegetable oils, starches, sugars, colourings, produce made with canola, processing aids and additives, as well as animal feed. It should also include the labelling of meat from animals that have eaten GM feed.
We are committed to Australia’s GM free status so GM free food can be prepared and enjoyed without hesitation across the country, by all Australians.
Download the Charter as a printable pdf
Chefs signed up
Australian Capital Territory
Anthony Fullerton of Hotel Realm
Darren Perryman of First Floor Restaurant
Kyle Prowse of Sage
Darren Tetley of The Boat House by the Lake
New South Wales
Kimitaka Azuma of Azuma
Simon Bestley of Bathers' Pavillion
Massimo Bianchi of Buon Ricordo
Martin Boetz of Longrain Restaurant
Guillaume Brahimi of Guillaume at Bennelong
Kim Camelleri of Restaurant Sojourn
Paul Camelleri of Restaurant Sojourn
Andrew Cibej of Vini
David Clark of Two Front Doors Cafe
Francis Corby of Bamboo Organic Cafe
Serge Dansereau of Bathers’ Pavilion
Holly Davis, founder of Iku Wholefood
Claire de Lune of Slide
Peter Doyle of est. at Establishment Hotel
Alison Drover
Colin Fassnidge of Four in Hand Hotel
Margaret Fulton
Peter Gilmore of Quay Restaurant
Neil Gottheiner of Bondi's Brown Sugar
Bill Granger of bills
Prihaudini Hassan of Fish Face
Alex Herbert of Bird Cow Fish
Stephen Hodges of Fish Face
Ashley & Travey Hughes of Alio
Jared Ingersoll of Danks Street Depot
Jodie Jones of Sourcedining
Vanessa Jones
Ajoy Joshi of Nilgiris
Carl Kenzler of Ritual Restaurant
James Kidman of Otto Ristorante
Peter Kuruvita of Flying Fish
Lee Kwiez of Milsons Restaurant
Kylie Kwong of Billy Kwong
Chui Lee Luk of Claude’s
Michael McEnearney of Rockpool
Paul McGrath of Bistro Ortolan
Christine Manfield of Universal Restaurant
Robert Marchetti of Icebergs Dining Room and Bar
James Metcalfe of Bécasse Restaurant
Mithiaki Miyakaki of Fish Face
Matthew Moran of ARIA Restaurant
Sean Moran of Sean’s Panaroma
Justin North of Bécasse Restaurant
Griff Pamment of Sean's Panaroma
Armando Percuoco of Buon Ricordo
Neil Perry of Rockpool
Giovanni Pilu of Pilu at Freshwater
Dietmar Sawyere of Forty-One & Berowra Waters Inn
Darren Simpson
Veronica Stute of Strangers With Candy
Zac Sykes of Fish Face
Jeremy & Jane Strode of Bistrode
Maurice Terzini of Icebergs Dining Room and Bar
Warren Turnbull of Assiette
Teresa Urlich of Bamboo Organic Cafe
Tetsuya Wakuda of Tetsuya's
Justin Wells of Strangers With Candy
Northern Territory
Jimmy Shu of Hanuman Restaurant
Queensland
Jerome Dalton of Dalton Hospitality
James Fien of Queensland Rugby Club Downtown
Scott Gibbs of Sodexho Prestige
Zeb Gilbert of Simple Pleasures Bistro and Bar
Nick Holloway of Nu Nu Restaurant
Paule Leete of Sails
Bruno Loubet of Baguette
Sinichi Maeda of Wasabi
David Pugh of Restaurant Two
David Rayner of River House
Sam Steck of Simple Pleasures Bistro and Bar
Kate von Bremen of Simple Pleasures Bistro and Bar
South Australia
Carlos Astudillo of Botanic Café
Maggie Beer
Tony Carroll of Jolley's Boathouse
Aleksander Korcz of Lasseters Hotel Group
Cheong Liew of The Grange
Rachel McMillan of Scoop SA
Peter Reschke of D'Arry's Verandah Restaurant
Johnny Triscari of Chloe's Restaurant
Tasmania
Charlotte Boss-Walker of Sirens Restaurant
Steve Cumper of The Red Velvet Lounge
Thomas Dicker of Angasi
Barry Dickson of Sirens Restaurant
Jess Double of Moorilla
Paul Foreman of Marque IV
David Flukes of Moorilla
Adam Glyde of Moorilla
Karen Goodwin-Roberts
Mathew Griggs of Moorilla
Justin Harris of Moorilla
Fiona Hoskins of Fee and Me
Robin Klobusiak of The Ugly Duck Out
Andrew McKinlay of Moorilla
Duncan Marshall of Sirens Restaurant
Warren Martin of Moorilla
Scott Minervi of Lebrina Restaurant
Patrick Rutledge of Moorilla
Jon Sheridan of Sirens Restaurant
Victoria
Stephanie Alexander of Stephanie's Restaurant
Marcus Allen of Interlude
Simon Arkless of Comme Kitchen
Michael Bacash of Bacash
Rod Barbey of B'coz
Martin Boetz of Longrain Restaurant
Dwayne Bourke of The Argo & Clunes Hotel
Robert Castellani of Donovan’s
Tony Chiodo, Eating Well Daily
Cath Claringbold, Burch & Purchese
Dallas Cuddy of Verge
Neil Cunningham of Healesville Hotel
Stefano de Pieri of Stefano's
Matt Dempsey of Pettavel Winery & Restaurant
Dur-é Dara of Nudel Bar
Elizabeth Egan of Becco
Teage Ezard of ezard and Gingerboy
Geraud Fabre of France-Soir
Guy Grossi of Grossi Florentino & Mirka at Tolarno Hotel
Sun Hyland of Sun Hyland Catering
Michael Lambie of Taxi Dining Room
Ann Lazarro of Pureharvest
Don Lazarro of Pureharvest
Sam Lynch of Original Foods
Andrew McConnell of Cumulus Inc
Matt McConnell of Bar Lourinha
Lucinda Macdougall
Catherine McGlead of Source Cafe
Samantha Meadmore of Pancake Parlour
Stephan Melkonian of Organic Food Catering
Trudie Michels
Luke Palmer of Fork to Fork
Scott Pickett of The Point
Darren Purchese, Burch & Purchese
Tobie Puttock of Fifteen Melbourne
Virginia Redmond of Cicciolina
Elizabeth Reid, TAFE Trade Teacher: Cookery
Patrice Repellins of Koots
Nicki Riemer of Trunk
Chris Rodriguez of Grossi Florentino
Daniel Schelbert of Cecconis Cantina
Ben Shewry of Attica
Annie Smithers of Annie Smithers Bistrot
James Stone of 100 Mile Cafe
Joseph Vargetto of Oyster Little Bourke
Matthew Wilkinson of Circa, The Prince
Paul Wilson of The Botanical
Alla Wolf Tasker of Lake House
Daniel Woollard of Il Solito Posto
Western Australia
Dany Angove of Leeuwin Estate Winery Restaurant
Russell Blaikie of Must Winebar
Aaron Carr of Vasse Felix
Chris Cheong of Must Winebar
David Coomer of Star Anise Restaurant
Matt Egan of Cullens Wines (Australia) Pty Ltd
Alain Fabregues MOF of Loose Box Restaurant
Don Hancey of Don Hancey Consulting
Tony Howell of Cape Lodge
Ian Parmenter
Amanda Smith, Chef Lecturer at Margaret River Education Campus
Peter Tagliaferri
Chris Taylor of Frasers Restaurant
Toan Tran at Padbury Restaurant and Cafe
