GE - TESCO IN NATIONAL GM FOOD CAMPAIGN.

[nsuser@foe.co.uk (Internet System) (by way of Reclaim the Streets! <rts@gn.apc.org>) (by way of genetics <genetics@gn.apc.org>)]

  FOE TARGETS TESCO IN NATIONAL GM FOOD CAMPAIGN Frankenstein takes
  message to Supermarket of the Year Award

  Photo Opportunity  
  12.10 pm, Thursday 25 March.
  Outside Claridges, which is hosting the Supermarket of the Year
  Awards.
  Frankenstein will be outside Claridges, Brook St, W1, urging Tesco
  to listen to its customers and remove GM ingredients from its
  own-brand food items.

  Tesco is to become the focus of a nationwide campaign on
  genetically modified (GM) food, it was revealed today.  Over the
  next few weeks FOE will be telling Tesco's customers around the
  country about the company's refusal to remove GM ingredients from
  its own- brand products.  Last October a NOP survey [1] showed
  that most Tesco customers wanted the store to go GM-free.  Tesco
  is being targeted because it is the only major supermarket which
  continues to ignore its customers views on genetically modified
  food.  Later today the winners of the prestigious Supermarket of
  the Year Awards will be announced [2].

  Over recent weeks supermarkets have responded to customer concern
  over GM food.  Sainsbury's and MS will have completely GM-free
  own-brand food within months, and Safeway, Asda, Waitrose,
  Somerfield, Morrisons and the Co-op hope to follow suit.  Earlier
  this week, frozen foods store Iceland, which removed GM
  ingredients from its own-label brands last year, announced large
  profits.  Its policy on GM food was regarded as a major factor in
  this increase.

  Robin Maynard, local campaigns director at Friends of the Earth,
  said:
  "Tesco's is the only major supermarket chain refusing to listen to
  its customers wishes on GM food.  The market leader is dragging
  its heels on this important issue and has now been overtaken by
  the rest of the field.  People want GM-free food and, as Iceland's
  financial results showed earlier this week, they are prepared to
  reward those stores that provide it.  If Tesco continues to force
  feed its customers Frankenstein food they shouldn't be surprised
  if shoppers choose to go elsewhere."

  [1] NOP/FOE survey 20 October 1998.
  [2] The Award's dinner is likely to be GM-free.  
Claridges avoids using GM ingredients.

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