Say no to genetic engineering

Greenpeace corn action during the International Biosafety Protocol meeting in Montreal, 2000.

Life is not a commodity.

Plants, animals, humans and genes should not be patented.

Genetic engineering (GE) enables corporations to create plants, animals and micro-organisms by manipulating genes. The results are not found in nature and cannot be achieved by traditional cross-breeding techniques. GE crops are usually sold by multinational corporations and are often designed to survive the application of specific, patented pesticide and herbicides. For example, Monsanto's Roundup Ready soybeans are resistant to Monsanto's Roundup herbicide, so farmers buy both their seeds and their chemicals from Monsanto.

While there are many environmental risks associated with GE food, the consequences for human health are still unknown. Even though GE food has been in grocery stores since 1996, there have been no long-term tests done on the impacts of GE food on human health. Some potential health risks associated with GE food include the development of antibiotic resistance, allergic reactions, nutritional changes and the creation of toxins. The Canadian regulatory system for food biotechnology is extremely weak and has been criticized as inadequate by many experts including the Royal Society of Canada. [Report from the Royal Society]

Canada is one of the largest producers of GE crops in the world and, across the country, up to 70 per cent of processed foods found in grocery stores contain or may contain GE ingredients. The most common GE ingredients come from crops like corn, soy, canola and cotton.

Greenpeace has compiled a guide to help you shop GE-free.

Browse the - How to Avoid Genetically Engineered Food site and download a copy today.

Greenpeace opposes the release of GE crops and animals into the environment based on the precautionary principle. We advocate interim measures including the labelling of GE foods and the segregation of GE crops and seeds from conventional and organic seeds. Greenpeace supports the 58 recommendations made in 2001 by the expert panel of the Royal Society of Canada. Greenpeace also opposes all patents on plants, animals, humans and genes.

Life is not a commodity.

Recent developments

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Parliament denies Canadians mandatory labelling of GE foods

A private member’s bill giving consumers the right to know if the food sold in Canada contains genetically engineered (GE) ingredients was defeated in the House of Commons today by a vote of 101 to 156. The defeat of Bill C-517 effectively protects the economic interests of GE companies like Monsanto over the rights of Canadians to know what they ea

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Ethanol minimums passed in Parliament spell more global food woes

A bill passed in the House of Commons today could see more of our already limited food supply fed to cars and SUVs instead of people, says Greenpeace.

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Biofuels that cause hunger

At first glance, biofuels seem to be a good solution for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as well as for our cutting dependence on fossil fuels. But the facts say otherwise…

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Gordon Campbell declared "biohazard" on first annual GE Free Day

Gordon Campbell is a biohazard to British Columbia for his continual refusal to label genetically engineered products, says Greenpeace, which today organized the province's first annual GE Free Day

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Proposed law gives consumer the right to know what they feed the kids

Canadians, some at least, may soon have the right to know what they are eating. Legislation just introduced in British Columbia would require all GE food to be labelled, something a Greenpeace poll shows the vast majority of B.C. residents want. Right now, about 70 per cent of all processed food on Canadian store shelves contains GE ingredients, though you wouldn’t know it.

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Costly contamination: $1.285 billion (US) in damages caused by genetically-engineered rice

Today, Greenpeace International published a report on the economic and regulatory impacts of genetically engineered (GE) rice contaminating the market in the United States.

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Health Authority Calls for Mandatory Labelling of GE Foods

Labeling of genetically engineered foods is a "very important nutrition and health issue" according to the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority. Genetically engineered foods raise serious potential health risks and require monitoring. The largest health agency in British Columbia, serving 1 million residents in Vancouver and nearby communities, has called on BC health minister George Abbott to adopt mandatory labelling of genetically engineered foods and seeds.

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Budweiser rice contamination exposed

The corporate braumeisters of Anheuser-Busch have let genetically engineered rice contaminate their Budweiser beer, independent laboratory testing has revealed. Tests show rice used in Anheuser-Busch's east coast US breweries is contaminated with genetically engineered rice varieties outlawed in most of the world, including Canada.

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Mandatory labelling of GE foods in British Columbia

As many as 70% of the processed foods on store shelves may contain GE ingredients. Consumers have a right to know what is in the food they eat, so that they can have a choice as to whether or not to consume this untested and risky technology. GE presents enormous dangers to the environment and biodiversity. The safety of GMOs to human health is still untested.

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GE Contaminated rice found in Europe

Greenpeace research has uncovered a new example of contamination of the world's most important staple food. We recently uncovered, and independently verified, that illegal GE rice from China has contaminated food products in France, Germany and the UK. The rice is not currently approved for commercial growing because of mounting concerns over its safety.