Press release - 19 December, 2005
Greenpeace today welcomed the commitment from Kraft Foods, the second largest food producer in the world, to supply only non-GE food in China, starting from 1 January 2007.
In a letter dated Dec 13, 2005, Kraft Foods said to Greenpeace
China,"As of 1 January 2007, for products sold by Kraft Foods in
the People'sRepublic of China, Kraft will only use non-GM
crop-derived ingredients,including additives and flavours."
"Kraft Foods' decision to shift to non-GE is a strong signal to
thefood industry." said Steven Ma, Greenpeace China GE Campaigner.
"Thegrowing concerns of the Chinese consumers have started to
reshape theGE ingredient policy of top food companies." The latest
IPSOS survey conducted in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou in
December 2004shows that 57% of Chinese consumers would choose
non-GE food, whileonly 16% of the respondents expressed willingness
to try GE food.
Kraft Foods is among the several top ranking food companies,
includingPepsiCo, Coca-Cola and Danone, who have already adopted a
non-GE policyin China. According to the recently released Shopper's
Guide toAvoiding GE Food by Greenpeace in China, 107 food brands
have applied anon-GE policy in China up to October 2005.
"The food industry's rejection of GE ingredients is just a
logical stepafter consumers have expressed their suspicion over GE
food," said Ma."If the world's second largest food producer has
altered its policyfrom GE to non-GE in China, what are other
companies waiting for?"
Ironically, the world's number one food producer, Nestle, does
notcommit to a non-GE policy in China, even if it has been
criticised foradopting a double standard, as it has a non-GE policy
for the EU,Russia and Brazil.
Greenpeace is an independent campaigning organisation that
usesnon-violent creative confrontation to expose global
environmentalproblems to drive solutions that are essential to a
green and peacefulfuture.
Other contacts: Steven Ma, GE Campaigner, Greenpeace China +86 139 101 04404 (Beijing)May Zhou, Media Officer, Greenpeace China +86 139 100 36849 (Beijing)