Greenpeace warns of genetic contamination

As shown on Channel Ten news tonight, a genetically engineered canola plant was found growing outside the designated crop boundary in the northern Victoria area of Yarrawonga. The green group also has evidence that gene tech company Monsanto is failing to follow it's own guidelines in the transportation and handling of harvested GE or GM canola seed.*

Monsanto's own technical manual states that: 'All trucks carrying Round Up ready canola seed or grain must clearly identify the contents as GM.'

"The Channel ten news footage clearly shows a truck delivering GM seed that has no markings or labelling whatsoever," said Greenpeace genetic engineering campaigner Michelle Sheather. "On top of that we saw grain handlers making minimal efforts to contain any spillage, and genetically engineered canola seeds left lying about ready to contaminate the surrounding country side."

Canola farmers are increasingly worried about contamination of their conventional canola crop, and losing the choice to grow non GE canola:

"In the long term there will be huge contamination issues. For me as a farmer it's about choice, and that will be reflected in what consumers will be allowed to choose... The majority of farmers are wary of biotech companies, they know [growing GM canola] will be a lock in to their herbicide regimes. They all want more proper scientific data, and that's what they're not getting."

Although other canola growing states like Western Australia, Tasmania, South Australia and the ACT still have bans on growing genetically engineered food crops, the estimated 5000 ton harvest in NSW and Victoria is destined to enter the whole Australian food chain.

"The major worry for consumers now is that genetically engineered canola will turn up in everyday food items like cooking oils, margarines, bread, pasta sauces and even ice cream and baby food, without being clearly labelled because GE canola oil is exempt from our food labelling laws," said Greenpeace's Michelle Sheather.

"The only way we can avoid "eating in the dark" is for the Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon to take heed of the thousands of consumers who are calling for comprehensive labelling of genetic ingredients in our food," said Sheather.

 *Genetic Engineering (GE) and Genetic Modification (GM) are interchangeable terms