Frequently Asked Questions  

(Safeway is used as an example here, but these answers apply to all national supermarket chains)

Q: Why are you targeting Safeway?

A: Safeway claims to care about food quality, yet they continue to use untested, unwanted genetically engineered (GE) ingredients in their store brand products. They have heard from thousands of concerned consumers about this issue, and have also ignored requests by several environmental and consumer groups to meet with them. Most European supermarkets, and in the US, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods and Wild Oats, have already committed to removing GE ingredients from their store brand products.  There is no reason why Safeway can’t do the same.

 

Q: What do you want Safeway to do?

A: We are asking Safeway to make a pledge to eliminate GE ingredients including rBGH from their store brand products. Although Safeway does sell some organic products (which prohibit the use of GE ingredients), their continued support of this technology is a mortal threat to organic agriculture.  If GE crops contaminate those of organic farmers, they may then lose their ability to certify their crop as organic.  Once this genetic pollution begins, it will be virtually impossible to stop and organic farming will cease to exist.

 

Q: Safeway says that GE foods have been approved by the FDA, and have never been proven unsafe.

A: There have been no long-term studies to show that GE foods are safe for human health or the environment. Despite receiving almost half a million comments to the contrary, FDA regulations on GE foods still do not include mandatory labeling or safety testing.  As a result, Government regulators and the biotech industry have allowed us and our families to be guinea pigs in a dangerous experiment. A recent national poll conducted by ABC News found that 93% of Americans support mandatory labeling for GE foods.  The vast majority of these people want GE foods labeled so they can choose to avoid them. Consumers have clearly spoken, now Safeway needs to listen. :

 

Q:What kinds of food products may contain GE-ingredients.?

A: GE ingredients, which include, soybeans, soy oil, corn, corn syrup, squash, canola oil, cottonseed oil, papaya and tomatoes, can be found in items such as cookies, crackers, taco shells, soft drinks, and salad dressing. GE crops such as corn, cotton and soy also comprise a large percentage of animal feed.  In addition the vast majority of the nation’s milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream and other dairy products come from cows injected with Monsanto’s recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH). 

 

Q: How do you know Safeway uses genetically engineered ingredients in their products?