April 13, 2013

expert reaction to all major supermarkets except Waitrose withdrawing ban on GM-fed birds

The supermarket chains Tesco and the Co-operative announced that their poultry would no longer be reared on feed that was guaranteed non-GM, following similar decisions already taken by Morrisons and Asda.

Professor Joe N. Perry, Chair, GMO Panel, European Food Safety Authority, said:

“The feed deriving from GM crops that is being fed to poultry has been thoroughly assessed for safety by a panel of independent scientists from the European Food Safety Authority.  Consumers should be reassured that there are no food safety concerns as a result of eating poultry fed with feed derived from these approved GM crops. 

“Chicken and chips is one of my favourites – I regularly buy free-range chicken from Tesco, and I shall continue to do so with confidence.” 

Prof Jonathan Jones, plant molecular biologist at the Sainsbury Laboratory, John Innes Centre, said:

“Most soybean growers plant GM varieties because weed control is easier.  GM is a method for crop improvement, not a thing in itself.  

“This decision by supermarkets reflects their acknowledgement that there is nothing harmful in the method, and that sourcing non-GM soy for feed increases costs to consumers to no good purpose.”