Press release - September 8, 2009
NEW DELHI, India — Greenpeace releases a food guide that alerts consumers on which popular food brands in India use genetically modified ingredients in their products.
Jai Krishna
GM Markets Campaigner
+91 98455 91992
Syed Mehaboob
Communications Manager
+91 97313 01983
- Food products of Nestlé, Cadbury, Kellogg, Britannia, and Safal
are among a 'red list' in a guide on GM-free food released by
Greenpeace in New Delhi on September 8, 2009.
- The 'Safe Food Guide' is a first of its kind in India, and
ranks 16 well-known food brands.
- The guide comes at a time when the Indian Government is on
the verge of approving genetically modified Bt Brinjal.
- Following-Bt Brinjal, there are close to 40 other food crops,
like rice, tomato, mustard, and potato, which the Indian Government
may approve.
- "The safety of GM crops as a foodstuff for animals and humans
is unknown and the testing regimes are inadequate. Studies on lab
rats show potential health risks including allergies, abnormal
growth of liver and kidney and many unpredictable effects.
Therefore, this guide plays an important role in informing
consumers," Jai Krishna, GM Markets Campaigner, Greenpeace India,
said while releasing the guide.
- The guide also comes in a pocket-sized version and lists
companies based on their responses to Greenpeace India.
- Companies like MTR, Dabur, Haldiram's, ITC Foods, PepsiCo
India, and Ruchi Soya are in the 'green list' based on their stand
that their products are GM-free as of today.
- In the 'red list' are Nestlé, Hindustan Unilever, Kellogg,
Cadbury, Agro Tech Foods Ltd, FieldFresh Foods Pvt Ltd (a unit of
Bharti Enterprises), Bambino Agro Industries Ltd, Britannia
Industries Ltd, Godrej Hershey Foods, Parle, and Safal.
- Bejon Misra, Managing Trustee, Healthy You Foundation, received
the first copy of the guide.
- "It is an excellent tool for the consumers to become aware
about GMOs. This initiative by Greenpeace has brought these
positions of food brands in the open. This would empower consumers
to make an informed choice," Misra said.
- Greenpeace demands that: i) food businesses adopt a no-GM
policy, because of the risks to health and environment, and ii)
take proactive steps to inform consumers about the presence or
absence of GM ingredients in their products.