Genetic engineering soon to be a pig in a poke?

Consumer advice center sample: Genetically modified food available in supermarkets

04-Jul-2023 - Germany

The majority of German consumers reject genetically modified foods. However, as part of a random sample, the Consumer Advice Center Hamburg found numerous products with ingredients made from corn, soy and sugar beet whose genetic material had been modified with the help of genes from other organisms. If this so-called old genetic engineering is used, food must generally be labeled according to current EU law. However, if the EU Commission has its way, there will soon no longer be any extra labeling of products if the genetic material of their raw materials has been deliberately modified by methods of new genetic engineering, for example using CRISPR/Cas scissors. A recently leaked draft bill is to be presented soon.

"Plants, organisms and animals produced with the aid of genetic engineering methods must continue to be subject to mandatory labeling," demands Armin Valet of Verbraucherzentrale Hamburg. "Whether it is new or old genetic engineering is irrelevant in our opinion. It must say on it what is in it!"

Genetically modified food on sale

A random sample conducted in May and June 2023 by Verbraucherzentrale Hamburg showed that goods with genetically modified ingredients are already available in supermarkets in Germany. Consumer advocates tracked down a total of 24 different products at Rewe and Edeka in Hamburg, even though these two and other major food retailers had assured the consumer center that they did not offer "genetically modified food." Rewe and Edeka stores run by independent merchants can, however, add to their assortment as they see fit. The products affected are primarily international confectionery, bars or snacks under the Reese's, Hershey, Nerds, Mike and Ike and Sour Patch brands from Mondelez, which are aimed at young consumers. Most of the products come from companies in the U.S., where commercial cultivation of transgenic crops bred with ancient genetic engineering, such as soybeans, corn and sugar beets, has long been allowed.

"We think parents in particular would like to know whether or not there are genetically modified ingredients in the currently very popular international confectionery products," Valet says. "Only thanks to mandatory labeling do they have a real choice. If the declaration for new genetic engineering is dropped, consumers will be buying a pig in a poke in the future."

On the website of the consumer advice center in Hamburg, interested parties can find a list with the names of the affected genetic engineering products as well as more detailed information on the old as well as the new genetic engineering, the possible plans of the EU Commission and the statements of the trade on the topic of genetic engineering.

Note: This article has been translated using a computer system without human intervention. LUMITOS offers these automatic translations to present a wider range of current news. Since this article has been translated with automatic translation, it is possible that it contains errors in vocabulary, syntax or grammar. The original article in German can be found here.

https://www.yumda.com/en/news/1180972/genetic-engineering-soon-to-be-a-pig-in-a-poke.html