2 May 2002

Green Agriculture Spokesperson Ian Ewen-Street today said the Life Sciences pro genetic engineering lobby group were desperately trying to discredit organics in a futile effort to make genetically food appear more acceptable.

"The Life Sciences network are doing in New Zealand what the genetic engineers have done around the world. They are trying to make out that organically produced food is no safer or better for consumers than conventional or genetically engineered food," said Mr Ewen-Street.

"The fact of the matter is that these lobbyists have never come to terms with the fact that nobody wants to eat genetically engineered food. There is no demand for it and the more genetically engineered food is promoted the more organic sales soar."

Mr Ewen-Street said it was ridiculous to say that food produced in a lab through inserting genes from an animal into a plant was as safe as food produced entirely naturally.

"People are choosing organics in increasing numbers because they want to avoid food produced by multinational companies, for profit, using ethically dubious technology. People do not trust genetically engineered food.

"It is demand driven. Almost every supermarket has an organics section, how many have a section for genetically engineered foods? The genetic engineering lobby has resisted labelling at every step because people will only eat genetically engineered food if they are unaware of what they are eating.

"The Life Sciences network is running scared because nobody wants to eat genetically engineered food and no amount of spin, scaremongering or public relations will stop that."

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