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<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>About the True Food Guide</b></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Greenpeace is opposed to
the irreversible release of genetically engineered organisms into the environment.
GE is an unpredictable and irreversible technology that is not needed and not
wanted!</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">The effects of GE on food
safety, environmental consequences, and moral and ethical concerns are some
of the reasons why globally consumers are rejecting GE and demanding that companies
commit to a GE free future.</font></p>
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<p><font color="#FF6600">______________________</font><br>
<font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><b>Your power as a consumer<font size="1"><br>
</font></b></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Companies respond to the
demands of their customers. In Europe especially, major companies are publicly
rejecting GE in the food chain, as a direct response to consumer concern over
genetic engineering. In New Zealand too, many companies have made similar commitments,
and with your help we can encourage more companies to take a GE free stance.
</font></p>
<p><font color="#FF6600">____________________________________</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><b><br>
Creating the GREENPEACE True Food Guide</b></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">The <b> True Food Guide
is based on </b>company responses to letters sent out by Greenpeace and members
of our consumer network. <b>The GE Status of each product</b> <b>in the </b>guide
is determined by the <b>manufacturer's</b> position on genetic engineering.
We have used brand names to make identification easier, however due to the complexity
of the food chain we have omitted some steps in the chain. For instance, Flemings
Muesli Bars are owned by Uncle Toby's, who are in turn owned by Bluebird, whose
parent company is Goodman Fielder. As the company response for the GE status
of Flemings came from Goodman Fielder, you'll notice that they are the parent
company we've included in the <b>database</b>. <b>The</b> <b>initial</b> <b>data</b>
was compiled from company responses from June to November 2000 <b>but hopefully
things will begin to change.</b></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">This guide is not intended
to be an exhaustive list of every food product that you can buy, but an indication
of the GE status of major brands. Likewise, the products listed here are only
some of the products sold by these companies. This will allow you to choose
if you want to eat GE-free food, or support companies with a GE free policy.
</font></p>
<p> </p>
<p><font color="#FF6600">_______________</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><b><br>
GE Status Codes</b></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">· <img src="/truefood/images/red.gif" width="29" height="28" align="absmiddle"><font size="4" color="#FF0000">
<b>RED</b> </font></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2" color="#FF0000">These companies
have a policy that supports genetic engineering in the food chain or do not
commit to being GE free. This means that the food they sell cannot be guaranteed
GE free. However not all Red branded products necessarily contain GE ingredients.
These are the companies we need to change using our consumer power!</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">· <img src="/truefood/images/amber.gif" width="28" height="28" align="absmiddle">
<font color="#FF6600" size="4"><b>Amber</b></font></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#FF6600" size="2">These companies
are actively tracing their ingredients to determine their GE status, and claim
they are sourcing alternative GE free ingredients. Companies who have not responded
are also included here. These companies may go either way, so again we need
to use our power to actively encourage them to go GE free! </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">· <img src="/truefood/images/green.gif" width="28" height="27" align="absmiddle">
<font color="#33CC33" size="4"><b>Green</b></font></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2" color="#33CC33">These companies
have a GE free commitment. Their company policy is to source GE free ingredients.
</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2" color="#33CC33">The best
way to guarantee GE free produce is to buy organic produce where the certification
process ensures no genetic contamination.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2" color="#33CC33">GE free
NZ (formerly RAGE) also have a comprehensive GE free database. Check it out
at <a href="http://www.rage.org.nz" target="_blank">www.rage.org.nz</a><br>
<a href="#Top"><br>
</a> </font></p>
<p><font color="#FF6600">_________________<br>
</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><b>GE in the food
chain</b></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">ANZFA (Australia New Zealand
Food Authority) have approved a number of genetically engineered foods into
NZ. Therefore any products that list the following ingredients or derivatives
of these ingredients could be genetically engineered if the company concerned
does not have a GE free policy.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">· Soy <br>
· Canola (oilseed rape)<br>
· Corn<br>
· Potatoes<br>
· Sugar-beet<br>
· Cotton <br>
<a href="#Top"><br>
</a> </font></p>
<p><font color="#FF6600">________</font><br>
<font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><b>Labelling</b></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">We have a right to know
what we are eating. However labelling laws enforced by ANZFA (Australia New
Zealand Food Authority) will only label some genetically engineered foods and
ingredients. These exemptions create such large loopholes in the labelling regime,
that we will not know if we are eating GE products. The exemptions are </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">· Highly refined
food - e.g. modified cornstarch, soy lecithin, oils and sugars that have been
highly processed. </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">· Processing aids
and food additives - e.g. vegetarian rennet in some cheese, brewing and baking
aids and food colourings. </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">· Flavours when they
make up less than 0.1% of the final food product. </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">· Food prepared at
the point of sale - this is one of the biggest omissions by ANZFA because it
exempts all fast food.</font></p>
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