More schools reject GM food

20 January 1999

More schools reject GM food

By FWi staff

INCREASING numbers of local education authorities are banning food
containing genetically modified ingredients from school canteens, claims
a new survey.

Twenty-one out of 33 councils surveyed in London have official policies
against genetically modified (GM) food, according to the study by the
Food Commission.

A further 20 out of 46 other local authorities across the country also
want to ban GM foods from schools.

The Food Commission campaigns for safer and healthier food. It also
publishes Food Magazine, which urges its readers: “Dont just get angry,
get active!”

The magazine wants parents and consumers to write to local schools
asking them to implement a GM-free policy for children.

The news comes on the day that local authorities were urged to buy
British food rather than sourcing supplies from abroad.

GM foods are yet to be grown commercially in this country, but some imported supplies of common imported ingredients such as soya are known to be genetically modified.

The multinational biotechnology companies behind the crops claim they
can provide cheaper food without the need for certain types of
agrochemicals.

But the latest issue of Food Magazine warns: “There is no evidence that
GM foods will be cheaper, so a GM-free policy should not cost anything to
implement.”