Gen-Food in the Department Store of the West?

Used genetic engineering in food in the department store of the West?

05/15/2012

Activists of the environmental group „Greenpeace“ demonstrate today in front of the largest department store in Europe, the department store of the West (KaDeWe). The environmentalists accuse the department store to carry genetically modified food in the assortment. With their action they want to persuade the company to take the criticized food from the sale and educate consumers.

According to Greenpeace, the department store has 37 different products containing genetically modified ingredients such as soybeans, sugar or corn starch. According to the environmental activists, the affected foods are all from the USA. The list of ingredients usually shows only small print that genetic engineering is included. However, environmentalists also discovered a baking mix that contained GM corn, although this fact was not stated on the packaging. However, such labeling of ingredients that also contain genetically modified plants is mandatory in the European Union (EU). Greenpeace drew attention to the fact that importers are also liable to prosecution if they violate the EU directive. For this reason, Greenpeace calls on the KaDeWe management to immediately remove the affected goods from the market.

Peanut butter, sauces and baking mix affected
As an example, Greenpeace named the KaDeWe products Reese´s Peanut Butter Cups and Kellogg's Pop Tarts gene sugar, GM corn and GM soy. In Tipsy BBQ sauce is made with GM cornstarch and gene soybeans. The baking mix, which was not specially labeled as GM food, comes from „Betty Crocker“.

The KaDeWe has a worldwide reputation and is therefore heavily frequented by tourists. The department store is known for selling fine food products, which are preferably offered on the gourmet floor. According to their own statements, the environmental activists want consumers to use their actions „Genetically Modified Food“ to draw attention. On signature lists, interested parties can vote against genetically modified food.

„Most consumers do not want to be under-cheered for GM food“, admonishes Christiane Huxdorff, expert on genetic engineering of Greenpeace. „With genetically modified foods they must involuntarily support the cultivation of risky gene plants.“

Gene foods are mostly from the USA
In the United States, a variety of foods include corn, soy, or sugar beet genetically modified varieties. In the United States, unlike in Europe, genetic engineering does not have to be labeled separately on the packs. But also there demand according to the „Information Service Genetic Engineering“ More and more consumers are producing GMO-free food. Already one million citizens have signed a petition requesting labeling of GM foods. „In the interest of consumers, KaDeWe should only sell imported products that are guaranteed to contain no ingredients from gene plants“, says Greenpeace activist Huxdorff. (Sb)

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Picture: Clicker