Tesco steps up ban on GM food
6 January 2000
Tesco steps up ban on GM food
By Isabel Davies and Vicky Houchin
TESCO has re-ignited the debate over genetically modified food by banning farm produce from any land previously used for GM crop trials.
A Tesco spokesman said the supermarket was in the process of sending letters to its field vegetable and salad suppliers informing them of the decision.
“We dont want farmers drilling into land which has residues of GM crops,” he said. “Our customers are very uncomfortable” with the idea.
The move was made in response to questions from farmers who had written to Tesco asking what the repercussions would be if they grew GM crops.
It is another body-blow for biotechnology companies, which have struggled to convince consumers that GM crops are safe for humans and the environment.
However, it is far from clear that the Tesco decision was meant to have been revealed to the general public quite so soon.
It was unveiled by Lord Melchett, the director of Greenpeace UK, during a speech at the Oxford Farming Conference on Thursday (6 January).
“This announcement will be a blow to government efforts to find farmers willing to host GM crop trials this year,” he said.
Within minutes, Tescos press office was inundated with phone-calls from journalists seeking to verify Lord Melchetts claims.
The supermarket confirmed it had moved to allay customers fears and was banning produce from any land previously used to grow GM crops.
Tesco is just one of Britains big supermarkets which appear increasingly keen to bow to consumer pressure to ban GM-based food from its shelves.
In response to consumer wishes last month, Tesco wrote to livestock farmers telling them of its aim to remove GM ingredients from animal feed rations.
“We have concluded that removal of GM ingredients from animal feeds … can and must be done without incurring extra costs for our customers,” it said.
The story is similar for other retailers. Asda and other supermarkets are also examining the possibility of banning meat from animals raised on GM feed.
Marks and Spencer already stocks exclusive non-GM lines in free-range poultry and pigmeat and aims to stock non-GM fed beef, lamb and dairy products.