Trader Joe's Proving That Going GE-Free is Possible
11/13/2002
San Francisco--Reinforcing the commitment it made a year ago, the national
supermarket chain, Trader Joe's, announced to its customers, yesterday,
that it has successfully removed genetically engineered (GE) food from
the majority of its store brand products. This announcement comes at a
time when an increasing number of U.S. food companies are questioning
the use of GE food ingredients in their products. "Genetically engineered
food poses unwanted environmental and health risks," said Heather Whitehead,
Greenpeace Genetic Engineering Campaigner. "Trader Joe's decision to remove
genetically engineered food from its products demonstrates that food companies
are becoming wary of the risks associated with these experimental foods."
Other supermarkets that still use GE ingredients in their store brands
are feeling increasing pressure from consumers around the nation. In New
England, over 40 Shaw's grocery stores were the site of consumer protests
last week, as part of a national week of action organized by Greenpeace
and the GE-Free Markets Coalition. Protesters at more than 60 Safeway
stores across the country called for the supermarket giant to eliminate
GE foods from its private label brands Shaw's is owned by Sainsbury, a
British supermarket chain that eliminated GE ingredients from its store
brands nearly three years ago.
Shaw's claims that consumer attitudes in Europe are different than in
the US, but more than fifteen recent polls show that Americans are equally
concerned about GE food. Last week, a national survey conducted by a leading
Republican polster, American Viewpoint, found that 88% of Americans want
labels on GE foods. An ABC News poll last year also found that 93% of
Americans want labeling, while 65% said they believe that GE foods are
not safe, or were unsure about their safety. Before it eliminates GE ingredients
from its products, Shaw's argues that the company needs a mandate from
the Food and Drug Administration to do so. However, European supermarkets,
including Sainsbury's, announced they would eliminate GE ingredients even
in the absence of government mandate or regulations.
Nearly three years ago, two other major U.S. supermarket chains, Whole
Foods and Wild Oats, decided to eliminate GE ingredients from their store
brands. "Trader Joe's didn't pass the buck to faceless government bureaucrats
and, instead, proactively removed GE ingredients in response to customer
demands," said Greenpeace's Whitehead. Americans want more widely available
safe, non-GE food, and not more excuses from stores like Shaw's and Safeway
about why that's not possible." CONTACT: Heather Whitehead, Greenpeace
(415) 255-9221, x312; Alisa Arnett, Greenpeace Media, 415-255-9221 x330.
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