Woolworths labels all GE foods

Australia's largest supermarket chain, Woolworths, has called for the labeling of all food containing genetically engineered (GE) ingredients. This move follows the acceptance of GE canola crops in both NSW and Victoria, with fears of widespread contamination of our food as a result.

Woolworths' chief executive Michael Luscombe reportedly stated that "the company strongly supports the clear labeling of all GM ingredients in food products to protect the interests of our customers and to enable informed decision making".

With over 900 supermarkets, and accounts for an estimated 30% of the Australian grocery and liquor market, this is a large undertaking. It highlights the inadequacy of current labeling standards, which do not require food items containing highly processed GE material, such as oil from GE canola, to be labeled as GE. Neither do they require the labeling of products derived from animals fed GE feed.

Woolworths also expressed concern for those farmers opposed to GE technology. "Woolworths believes that segregation protocols and assurance processes for GM and non-GM crops should be considered very carefully to protect the rights of those farmers who choose to stay GM-free," Mr Luscombe's statement said.

In the meantime, the West Australian government's attitude to GMOs is clear, "we will remain clean, green and GMO-free unless our consumers tell us otherwise," Western Australia's Agriculture Minister Kim Chance has stated. Mr Chance said that by staying GMO-free, Western Australia will retain key overseas markets and a price premium.

The Consumers Union of Japan would switch to buying from Western Australia, Mr Chance said. European and Australian consumers also preferred GMO-free food. He added that Western Australian canola commands a GMO-free price premium of up to $50 a tonne.