Genetic Engineering

genetic_engineering_1Currently the only genetically engineered (GE) food crops commercially produced in Australia are cotton and canola. They can both be labelled under ‘vegetable oil’ without any indication that they are GE. Processed food commonly contains GE ingredients mainly through imported corn, soy and cottonseed oil.

GE crops pose a very real threat to our food because as living organisms they can reproduce and spread. Their effects are irreversible as once they have been released they cannot be recalled.

Concerns over genetically engineered (GE) food include unknown health risks, threats to biodiversity, contamination of conventional and organic crops, increase in pesticide and herbicide use and control over our food by multinational chemical companies who legally own the patents on the technology.

GE wheat is being trialled by the CSIRO in Australia as of 2011 even though it has been rejected by all the other major wheat growing nations

According to Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), food must be labelled as genetically modified or containing GM ingredients if it or its contents have been produced using gene technology as permitted under the Commonwealth Gene Technology Act.

But there are some exceptions:

  • highly refined food where the modified DNA, or proteins resulting from it, is removed during processing
  • processing aids or food additives, where no modified DNA or protein resulting from it remain in the final food
  • flavours where the concentration in the final food is less than 0.1%
  • unintentional presence, where the ingredient is less than 1% of the food
  • any foods consumed at the point of sale.

So canola oil from GM canola, imported GM soy products eaten in cafes and restaurants and beer made using adjuncts such as syrup from GM corn (where no modified DNA is present in the final product) are not labelled as GM foods.


Regarding the context of present labels...

“Organics certification groups also keep an eye on the labels ‘GE free’ and ‘GMO free’.
Organic farming methods prohibit genetic engineering and modification but according to Lyn Austin it is hard to monitor. She explains that it is nearly impossible to test products to the point you can be confident no genetically modified elements exist. Certifiers like NASAA do not issue labels claiming the product is GE- or GMO-free. The term they use is ‘non-GMO’. Scott Kinnear, from the Biological Farmers of Australia, says Fair Trading law, administered through the ACCC, “imposes a burden of truth on a manufacturer who says their products are GE free”. If a product labelled GE free is found to contain GE ingredients the manufacturer will be found in breach of trading laws. Companies that use the label ‘GE-free’ do so, he says, “at their peril” since penalties for misleading the public are serious.

From Foodwise – Organic labelling

A new certification body ‘GMO-ID Australia’ for genetically modified organism free (GMO-free) foods was launched in Australia in May 2013. See article ‘GMO-free’ certification launched in Australia’. For a list of non-GMO certified suppliers .

 

Actions you can take

  • Look for foods labelled ‘GMO free’, ‘GE-free’, ‘Not genetically modified’, ‘Certified organic’ & ‘Bio-dynamic’ or items that are ‘Product of Australia’ (except food containing cottonseed & canola oil).
  • The True Food Network has been previously co-ordinated by Greenpeace who with this work collated the Greenpeace True Food Guide which signified brands guaranteed GE-free by their manufacturer (the assurance is that they are not using GE ingredients anywhere in the food chain, including animal feed). Note, our company assessments in this area link to the archived site for the Greenpeace True Food Guide and their 2011 data.  The True Food Network is now run by the Safe Food Foundation.
  • Have your say and oppose GE food crops in Australia.

More information on how you can take action on Genetic Engineering.

Other useful links

 

See companies that have received praises or criticisms for this issue.
  COMPANIES WITH PRAISES
– PRAISE (FULL)
…… AB Food & Beverages Australia , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Abe’s Real Bagels , NZL – “ Free from GE ingredients “
…… Alaringa , – “ GE-Free brands “
…… ALDI Stores (Australia) , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… All Natural Foods , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Amy’s Kitchen Inc , USA – “ GE-free brands in US “
…… Angas Park Fruit Company , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Arnott’s Biscuits , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Australian Health & Nutrition Association , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Australian Independent Brewers , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Bacardi , BMU – “ GE-Free brands “
…… BD Farm Paris Creek , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Beam Global Australia , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Bega Cheese , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Bellamy’s Organic Farms Tasmania , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Bellis Fruit Bars , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Berri , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Bickford’s Australia , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Blue Lake Milling Company , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Bluetongue Brewery , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Brookfarm , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Buontempo Enterprises , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Byron Bay Chilli Co. , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Carman’s Fine Foods , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Casalare Specialty Pasta , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Ceres Natural Foods , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Chateau Tanunda , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Coca-Cola Amatil , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Coles Supermarkets Australia , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Da Vinci Foods , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Dairy Bell Ice Cream (Australia) , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Darrell Lea Chocolates , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… De Bortoli Wines , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Dick Smith Foods , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Dollar Sweets Company , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Eco Farms , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Elz Valley Distillery Georg Weis Gmbh , DEU – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Fantastic Snacks Australia , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Ferrero Australia , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Fontelle Australia , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Foster’s Group , AUS – “ GE-Free Australian-made brands “
…… Fowlers Vacola Australia , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Freedom Foods Group , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… George Weston Foods , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Go Natural , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Gold Coast Bakeries (QLD) , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Goodman Fielder , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Gourmet Ice Cream Factory, The , – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Green’s General Foods , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Griffin’s Foods , NZL – “ Free from GE ingredients “
…… Guzzis , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Haigh’s Manufacturing , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Hampden Trading , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Hansells (NZ) , NZL – “ Free from GE ingredients “
…… Heineken Lion Australia , NLD/JPN – “ GE-Free brands “
…… HJ Heinz Company Australia , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… IGC Australia , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Inglewood Farms , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… J.H. Whittaker & Sons, , NZL – “ Free from GE ingredients “
…… Jalna Dairy Foods , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Jelly Belly Candy Company , USA – “ GE-free brands in US “
…… Kez’s Kitchen , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Kialla Pure Foods , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Kikkoman Australia , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Kylie (Australia) , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Laucke Flour Mills , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Leda Nutrition , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Lewis Confectionery , – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Lindt & Sprungli (Australia) , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Lloyds Vineyard , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Logan Farm , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Mamee-Double Decker (M) Bhd , MYS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… McWilliam’s Wines , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Metcash , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Meyer Gourmet Foods , – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Milawa Free Range , – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Monster Muesli , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… mOrganics Baby ‘O’ , – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Mother Earth Fine Foods , – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Mountain Fresh Fruit Juices , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Murray Goulburn Co-operative Co , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Naturally Good Products , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Nestle Australia , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Nice & Natural , NZL – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Nudie Foods Australia , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Nutrisoy , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Only Organic , NZL – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Organic Baby Food Company , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Organic Trader , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Pacific Beverages , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Paradise Food Industries , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Parmalat Australia , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Peerless Foods , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Planet Organic Co. , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Prema Organics , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Rafferty’s Garden , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Real Foods , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Rinoldi Pasta , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Robinvale Organic Wines , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Rosella Foods , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… San Diego Tortilla Factory , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… San Remo Macaroni Company , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Sandhurst Fine Foods Company , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Saxbys Soft Drinks , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Sealord Group , NZL – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Select Harvests , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Snack Foods , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… SPC Ardmona , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Spiral Foods , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Spiroski Foods , – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Steric Trading , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Sunbeam Foods , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Superpop , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Sweet William , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… The Encounter Bay Brewing Company , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. , USA – “ GE-free brands in US “
…… Tofutti Brands Inc , USA – “ GE-free brands in US “
…… Tru Blu Beverages , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Vege Chip Company, The , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Vitaco Health Australia , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Vitaco Health , NZL – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Ward McKenzie , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Whisk & Pin , – “ GE-Free brands “
– MINOR PRAISE (not used in rating calculations)
…… Asahi Group Holdings , JPN – “ GE-Free brands “
…… Baiada Poultry , AUS – “ Lilydale Chicken GE-Free “
…… Schweppes Australia , AUS – “ GE-Free brands “
COMPANIES WITH CRITICISMS IN THIS AREA
– CRITICISM (FULL)
…… Bayer AG , DEU – “ Genetic Engineering “
…… Kellogg Company , USA – “ Use of GE sugar in USA “
…… Kraft Foods Inc , USA – “ Use of Genetically modified ingredients “
– CRITICISM (LESSER)
…… Cargill Inc , USA – “ Promotion of GMO into food chain “
– MINOR CRITICISM (not used in rating calculations)
…… Abbott Laboratories , USA – “ Possible GE in US brands “
…… Australian Fast Foods , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Australian Nut Processors , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Baiada Poultry , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Bakers Delight Holdings , – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Barilla Australia , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Bartter Enterprises , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Betta Foods (Aust) , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Boost Foods , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Brown-Forman Corporation , USA – “ Use of GM corn “
…… Buderim Ginger , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Bundaberg Sugar Group , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Campari Australia , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Campbell Soup Company , USA – “ Possible GE in US brands “
…… Casa Cuervo, S.A. de C.V. , MEX – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Cerebos (Australia) , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Coca-Cola Company , USA – “ Possible GE in US brands “
…… ConAgra Foods Inc , USA – “ Possible GE in US brands “
…… Coopers Brewery , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Del Monte , – “ Possible GE in US brands “
…… Dr Pepper Snapple Group , USA – “ Possible GE in US brands “
…… Dr.Oetker Australia , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Fonterra Brands Australia , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Fresh Food Enterprises , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… General Mills Australia , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… General Mills, Inc. , USA – “ Possible GE in US brands “
…… Grupo Modelo S.A.B. de C.V. , MEX – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… H.J. Heinz Company , USA – “ Possible GE in US brands “
…… Hansen Beverage Company , USA – “ Possible GE in US brands “
…… Hershey Company, The , USA – “ Possible GE in US brands “
…… Hormel Foods Australia , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Hormel Foods Corporation , USA – “ Possible GE in US brands “
…… Hungry Jack’s , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Inghams Enterprises , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… J. M. Smucker Company , USA – “ Possible GE in US brands “
…… Kellogg Australia , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Kellogg Company , USA – “ Possible GE in US brands “
…… King International , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Kraft Foods Australia , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Kraft Foods Inc , USA – “ GE in Taco Shells “
…… Lemnos Foods , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Lion , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Manassen Foods , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Marathon Food Industries , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Mars Australia , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Mars Inc. , USA – “ Possible GE in US brands “
…… McCain Foods (Aust) , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… McCormick Foods Australia , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… McDonald’s Australia , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Merisant Worldwide, Inc , USA – “ Possible GE in US brands “
…… Moet Hennessy Australia , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Mrs Quick Foods , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Nando’s Australia , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Nestle USA , USA – “ Possible GE in US brands “
…… NutraSweet Company, The , USA – “ Possible GE in US brands “
…… Nutricia Australia , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Nuttelex Food Products , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc , USA – “ Possible GE in US brands “
…… Oporto Franchising , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Pace Farm , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Patties Foods , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… PepsiCo Australia Holdings , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Pepsico Inc , USA – “ Possible GE in US brands “
…… Premium Wine Brands , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Primo Meats , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Procter & Gamble Company , USA – “ Possible GE in US brands “
…… Quakers Oats , USA – “ Possible GE in US brands “
…… Red Bull Australia , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Riviana Foods , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Sakata Rice Snacks Australia , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Sara Lee Australia , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Scalzo Food Industries , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Schweppes Australia , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Simplot Australia (Holdings) , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Smith’s Snackfood Co. , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Starbucks Coffee Company (Australia) , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Subway Systems Australia , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… The Nieve Company , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Unibic Australia , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Unilever , GBR/NLD – “ Possible GE in US brands “
…… Unilever Australia , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Want Want China Holdings , CHN – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Weight Watchers Australia , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Whyte and Mackay , GBR – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Woolworths , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Wyeth Corporation , USA – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… Yum! Restaurants Australia , AUS – “ Possible GE in brands “
…… , – “ Possible GE in brands “
FURTHER INFORMATION
– FURTHER INFORMATION (not used in rating calculations)
…… Ebro Foods SA , ESP – “ Ban of GE rice imports “
…… Suntory Holdings , JPN – “ Genetic Engineering “

More on the ‘values screen‘ for company assessments.