“GE” label on U.S.-made Heinz product explodes
the myth of food label practicality and costs
Greenpeace
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 10, 2002
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| H.J. Heinz already labels foods as genetically
modified -- click thumbnail for larger image. |
Food produced for one of the country’s largest food companies,
H.J. Heinz, is already be-ing labelled if it contains genetically
engineered (GE) ingredients. But the labelled product is not sold
in the U.S., even though it is produced here. Heinz sells the product
in Australia, where GE labelling is required – at about the
same price Americans pay. Greenpeace revealed the label today to
demonstrate that identifying and labelling GE ingredients for food
produced in the US is possible at no increased cost to consumers.
“Everyone in Oregon should get a chance to see this label,”
said Greenpeace spokesperson Lindsay Keenan. “When a major
company like Heinz can label all the GE ingredients, ship the product
all the way to Australia, and still make a profit selling it, then
you have to wonder why labelling opponents say this is not possible
for Oregon.”
A concerned member of the public sent Greenpeace the label of a
Heinz product sold in Australia, on which four ingredients are listed
as “genetically modified”. The product, Michelina`s
brand Macaroni and Beef, is made in the U.S. for Heinz by Duluth,
Minnesota-based Luigino’s, Inc. It is labelled “Product
of USA”.
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| Is labeling really all that difficult? Click
thumbnail to see larger image. |
Heinz told Greenpeace that they only sell the product in Australia
and that they have de-cided to drop this product line because the
manufacturer has been unable to guarantee its ingredients are not
genetically engineered.
Heinz US policy on GE (or Genetically Modified) ingredients issued
in January 2001 states, “Heinz seeks to avoid the use of GMOs
in its products…. This policy has led Heinz to remove all
GM ingredients from its US baby food varieties…. We also source
our own non-GM tomatoes for our Ketchup. GM ingredients may only
be considered for use where there are not adequate non-GMO options
available…. If it is necessary to utilise GMOs or ingredients
derived from GMOs, systems must be in place to track the source
and use of these ingredients.”
In the U.S., the largest association of food producers, the Grocery
Manufacturers Association (GMA), claims that GE labelling is not
practical. Yet some of their own members, such as Heinz, are already
labelling GE ingredients, at no extra cost to consumers.
“This label makes a liar of anyone who says GE labelling
can’t be done in the US,” said Keenan. “Greenpeace
calls upon the GMA to come clean and admit that GE labelling is
feasible and is already happening, at no extra cost to consumers.
The people of Oregon have the right to know that food companies
are already labelling their GE products, without making consumers
pay more for safe food.”
Note: A scanned copy of the label is attached or available on request.
CONTACT: Charles Margulis, Greenpeace (202) 413-8512
(mobile);
Alisa Arnett, Greenpeace Media, 415-255-9221 x330;
Lindsay Keenan, Greenpeace (001) 491715052896 (mobile).
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