Vegetarian mince contains GM soya

15 February 1999

Vegetarian mince contains GM soya

By FWi staff

VEGETARIAN mince and sausages sold under the Linda McCartney brand-name contain genetically modified (GM) soya despite the makers assurances to the contrary.

Independent laboratory tests commissioned by BBC Newsnight found samples of the foods contained GM soya, the programme claimed this evening (Monday).

A spokeswoman for Linda McCartney customer services initially told Newsnight that none of the products in the companys range contained GM ingredients.

“We only buy from segregated non-GM crops,” she told the programme. “We dont use genetically modified.”

But three tests by Worcestershire Scientific Services found the vegetarian meat contained traces of Roundup Ready Soya developed by US biotech giant Monsanto.

Since last September, the law has required all food products containing GM ingredients be labelled.

Sir Paul McCartney dismissed the notion that his late wifes food range usually contains GM material and pledged to guarantee it is GM-free in the future.

But the ex-Beatle conceded that some contamination could have arisen from producers mixing GM-free soya with conventionally produced supplies last year.

“That would make it very difficult for companies like ours who pride themselves on the purity of their food,” he said. “We are unfortunately living in a GM world and I wish we werent.”

The company that makes the Linda McCartney products said it is inevitable that eventually even segregated non-GM crops will show traces of GM material.