UK supermarkets to source more GM free products - Brief Article

Eurofood, Feb 1, 2001

Britain's leading supermarket groups have voiced their intentions to source more animal products from livestock fed on non-genetically modified (GM) feed in the face of a growing demand from UK consumers. For Marks & Spencer's the announcement follows earlier moves some months ago to remove GM products from their premium range. From now on, they claim all fresh beef, lamb, chicken, eggs and salmon sold in their stores will come from livestock fed on non-GM diets. The retailer expects to offer the same claim for pork and dairy products in the next few months. David Gregory, head of technology at Marks and Spencer, said: "This is a landmark first for a British food retailer. We have worked in partnership with our farmers, feed suppliers and processors to achieve this. We are in the position of selling our own brand goods and so our customers have the reassurance of knowing that our own food products are carefully produced to our specifications." Another leading retailer, the Asda supermarket chain, say their technologists have spent the last year forging links with soy growers, UK distributors and laboratories to create a non-GM supply base, distribution network and quality assurance scheme that has the potential to meet the needs of all UK retailers. They say the soya will be tested by a rigorous quality assurance scheme conducted by independent laboratories when it is planted, harvested and transported back to the UK. In addition, the chickens, laying hens and pigs reared for Asda on non GM feed will in time be fed on a non-GM diet for their entire life and not just in the final months before slaughter--a practice that technically produces non-GM fed meat.

Asda has announced that it will be offering non-GM fed fresh chicken, pork and eggs from this summer, in response to consumer demand. Another leading supermarket Tesco as spent 18 months working to secure non-GM soya and maize, which will be obtained mainly from Brazil. The UK National Farmers Union (NFU) has expressed doubts about the move and believes it will add greatly to the cost of farming. They also believe it is not based on any scientific evidence.

The NFU president Ben Gill said: "It is one thing for the retailers to offer consumers choice by developing lines of products from animals fed on non-GM feed but it is quite another for them to require the same for all meat products." Research shows that GM material is broken down naturally when eaten by animals. Its component parts are the same as the components of non-GM crops.

Supplies of guaranteed GM-free feed ingredients are limited and a sudden increase in demand -- on top of the increase in demand for vegetable protein caused by Europe banning the use of MBM in pig and poultry rations -- can only lead to higher costs for farmers. Gill concluded: "We are deeply concerned that the current intentions of several British supermarkets will disrupt the supply of British meat to the customer."