--Dan Worley in Sunny Puerto Rico--
>Dear Friends,
>
>Many of you are asking, "What can we do?" Here is something very specific.
>The accompanying article (which I have also included as an attachment)
>shows what is happening in Britain at the retail level.
>
>Please print this article off your computer and take it to the manager of
>your local food stores. When the retailers see where the money is going to
>go, they will become quickly interested.
>
>Britain is taking the lead but all of us, including Canada, will and must
>follow quickly.
>
>Thank you for your support.
>
>..............................
>
>NEWS FLASH 3/25/98
>
>
>British Supermarket Chain
>Refuses Genetically Engineered Foods
>
>British Supermarket Chain Refuses GE Foods
>
>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
>Foods, 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 foods 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.
>
>Prince Charles is backing the ban. He said in a special video: "A great
>many customers don't want to eat food processed in this way - I certainly
>don't."
>
>..............................
>
>Canadian retailers wanting to take advantage of the increasing demand in
>the market place for non-genetically engineered food are welcome to
>contact: Consumer Right to Know Campaign at tel. 613-565-1838, fax.
>613-565-1596.
>
>______________________________________________________
>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
>tel. 613-565-8517 fax. 613-565-1596
>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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