GM food consumption warning

GM food is entering the UK by stealth via feed given to animals reared for dairy and pork products, a campaign group has warned.

Supermarket chains are widely stocking goods sourced from animals fed genetically modified soya and maize, according to the Soil Association.

GM material could find its way in very small quantities into milk and animal tissue of GM-fed livestock, the group said.

The Soil Association, which is pro-organic, said consumers were eating food produced from GM crops without their knowledge.

There is no requirement to label food produced from GM-fed animals.

Most supermarkets have not banned dairy and meat products from GM-fed animals despite banning GM ingredients from their own-label products, according to the Soil Association.

Tests carried out on 35 feed samples from dairy, pig and poultry farmers found 73% contained GM soya.

Of the GM soya samples, 27% had a GM soya content of more than 70%.

Supermarket and feed company sourcing policies showed that GM maize was also widely used, with the dairy and pig sectors most likely to do so.

The Soil Association is calling on the Government and European Commission to bring in compulsory labelling for foods produced from GM-fed animals.

Share this article

Send this article to a friend »

• Del.icio.us
• Digg
• Reddit
• Facebook
• StumbleUpon

What are these?