When the issue of GM produce first came up in the UK the major supermarkets
(Tesco, Sainsbury and Asda) all promised that they would label any products on
their shelves which contained any genetically modified material. With the GM
soybean they are now saying that this will not be possible as they themselve
will not know whether the standard beans have been mixed with some GM soya
somewhere along the line!
This sets a very dangerous precident. Even if GM soya is perfectly harmless
they can now use the same excuse for any other GM product which may come along
and some of these may not be so 'harmless' (eg the GM soybean which contains
genes from the Brazil nut caused an allegic reaction in people sensitive to the
Brazil nut).
I agree with P. Dines, labelling should be enforced but this can only be
effective if food sources are traceable.
Geoff Seavers
IACR-Long Ashton Research Station
Bristol
UK
geoff.seavers@bbsrc.ac.uk