'GM-Free' Food Contaminated

Dozens of food companies are breaking the law by selling food containing genetically modified (GM) ingredients without stating the fact on the label.

Worcestershire Trading Standards Services says that around one third of the 200 items sampled by a number of local authorities for DNA testing at the Public Analyst laboratory contain GM soya or maize. Only one item stated the fact on the label despite an EU law, introduced in September 1998, requiring human food products containing DNA from genetically modified ingredients to be labelled. Many of the companies concerned said they were unaware of the presence of genetically modified material in their products.

The revelations further highlight the total inadequacy of the EU GM labelling law, which also allows certain ingredients - such as GM oils and lecithin - to be exempt. Furthermore, although the EU regulation on GM food labelling has been in effect since September 1998, companies are not prosecuted because the Government has yet to introduce any sanctions for law-breakers. Such a move is still some months away.