--Dan Worley in Sunny Puerto Rico--
>Errors-To: <rwolfson@concentric.net>
>X-Sender: rwolfson@pop3.concentric.net
>Date: Thu, 19 Mar 1998 15:56:44 -0500
>To: info@natural-law.ca
>From: Richard Wolfson <rwolfson@concentric.net>
>Subject: Iceland Foods
>Cc: Judy_Kew@greenbuilder.com
>X-UIDL: 3061a012902a9c2508e71f64e9b8d756
>
>LONDON, March 19 (UPI) One of Britain's largest supermarket chains says it
>is refusing to market under its own brand name genetically altered foods.
>
> The company, Iceland, explained its policy today, breaking ranks with
>other key chains Safeway, Tesco and Sainsbury's.
>
> The policy effective bans the sale of many U.S. food products under
>Iceland's brand name and guarantees nearly 400 grocery products will
>contain no genetically modified foods.
>
> Iceland, noting that most containing altered genes are designed to make
>products last longer or taste better, says its new policy goes into effect
>May 1.
>
> The other chains have said only that they plan to label all genetically
>modified goods by the end of the year.
>
> The decision is the result of the personal views of Iceland's founder,
>chairman and chief executive Malcolm Walker. He told British radio today,
>"Consumers are being conned."
>
> He said use of genetically modified ingredients "is probably the most
>significant and potentially dangerous development in food production this
>century."
>
> Walker said he was acting on the basis of comments last year from the head
>of the government's new Food Standards Agency, Prof. Philip James.
>
> James said last year: "The perception that everything is totally
>straightforward and safe is utterly naive. I do not think we fully
>understand the dimensions of what we are getting into."
>
> Iceland executives say its market research shows 81 percent of customers
>are concerned about buying genetically modified foods and would avoid them
>if possible.
>
> Iceland has 770 stores and a $2.32 billion annual turnover.
>
>_________________________________________________________
>Richard Wolfson, PhD
>Consumer Right to Know Campaign,
>for Mandatory Labelling and Long-term
>Testing of all Genetically Engineered Foods,
>500 Wilbrod Street
>Ottawa, ON Canada K1N 6N2
>email: rwolfson@concentric.net
>
>Our website, http://www.natural-law.ca/genetic/geindex.html
>contains more information on genetic engineering as well as
>previous genetic engineering news items
>Subscription fee to genetic engineering news is $35 for 12 months
>See website for details.
>__________________________________________________________
>__________________________________________________________
>
>
>
>
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