Press Release

Consumers take to street in fight over favourite foods

Consumers angered that classic foods like Milo, given by parents to thousands of children each day, may be contaminated with genetically modified ingredients, are to stage a rush-hour vigil opposite the offices of the manufacturer Nestle (NZ), No 1 Broadway, Newmarket on Thursday 6th April from 4.30pm-6pm

A noisy protest is likely following last week's revelation by environmental group Greenpeace that Nestle products had started testing 'positive' for genetically engineered contaminants.

Nestle have declared a policy not to use GE ingredients in countries where consumers contact them to express their preference. The protesters are angry at the company's failure to act sooner to safeguard their products, and reject Nestle's claim that New Zealand consumers have not voiced a wish for GE-free products.

Last year (the now) Green MP Nandor Tanczos presented a petition on behalf of New Zealand consumers to the company calling for voluntarily labelling of GE ingredients, or a stop to their use. Organisers will be presenting another petition asking the company to go GE-Free, pending the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry.

" By ignoring its customers wishes for a precautionary approach the company is breaking the golden rules of marketing ", says protest supporter Jon Carapiet. "It's Catch 22: There are no labels so people don’t know what is in the product, so they can't call up to say they don’t want it. That's a poor situation with which to justify their policy"
"We are asking why should people be forced to stop giving our kids a favourite like Milo, simply because the manufacturer rejects even trying to avoid contaminated ingredients?"

Jon says the feeling that Nestle are ignoring their new Zealand customers has recently been deepened by recent advertising billboards promoting "Kit-Kat" chocolate. One of the headlines talks about Nestle ' giving their customers the finger'.

"That's exactly the problem', says Jon: "they should be giving customers information about what's in their food, not joking inappropriately about giving their customers the finger."

Media contact: Jon Carapiet 09 815 3370

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