Activists Demand Shaw’s Stop The Genetic Food Experiment
Methuen, MA, February 19, 2003 – In a dramatic action to get
Shaw’s/Star markets to rid its store brand products of genetically
engineered (GE) food, Greenpeace parked three buses in front of
Shaw’s main distribution center in order to block deliveries of GE
food to Shaw’s stores. Six Greenpeace activists were locked to the
buses, painted with the message, “Shaw’s: Stop Genetically
Engineered Food” and “The Genetic Experiment Ends Here.” Today’s
lockdown comes after two years of widespread consumer activism
across New England in what has become a growing movement against
Shaw’s continued use of GE food.
“Tens of thousands of Shaw’s customers have demanded that their
food no longer contain these genetic experiments, but Shaw’s has
ignored them,” said Heather Whitehead, Campaigner with the
Greenpeace Genetic Engineering Campaign. “Shaw’s won’t stop the
flow of genetically engineered food to its stores, so Greenpeace
activists will.”
During today’s blockade, Greenpeace sent representatives to
Shaw’s Headquarters in West Bridgewater, Massachusetts to request a
meeting with Shaw’s CEO, Paul Gannon. In December of last year,
Greenpeace awarded Mr. Gannon with the “#1 Food Polluter in New
England” plaque for the supermarket chain’s continued use of GE
food in its store brands. At the same time, over 200,000 consumer
emails were sent to the company asking that they remove GE
food.
Doctors and scientists warn that genetically engineered foods
could trigger food allergies, have increased levels of toxins, or
could hasten the spread of antibiotic resistance.
“It is astounding that Shaw’s has not changed their stance on
genetically engineered food,” said Dr. Doreen Stabinsky, science
advisor to Greenpeace. “Shaw’s is playing Russian Roulette with the
health and environment of its customers.”
Genetic testing requested by Greenpeace found that four out of
five of the tested Shaw’s brand products contained genetically
engineered ingredients: Shaw’s Brand Crispy Corn Puffs Cereal,
Shaw’s Brand Yellow Corn chips, Shaw’s Brand Complete Pancake and
Waffle Mix, and Shaw’s Brand Taco dinner. Shaw’s parent company,
UK- based J Sainsbury, has already stopped using GE ingredients in
its food because of consumer demands.
