The resources here are specifically designed for general readers.
Food & Farming
(PDF format - 1044K) Aug
2002
Supermarket or farmers' market? Organic or local? Fair Trade or cheap
imports? Nowadays what we eat, how it is produced and where we buy it
are complicated questions for anyone concerned with environmental issues.
This booklet is full of information about the main topics, what you
can do to help and how Friends of the Earth is campaigning for sustainable
agriculture and access to Real Food for everyone.
Planting prejudice
(PDF† format - 523K) Nov 2007
How UK Government support for GM crops undermines sustainable farming policies.
Could GM food cause allergies?
(PDF† format - 188K) Jun 2006
New research has brought into question the safety of both new and previously approved GM foods.
Genetically modified animal feed
(PDF† format - 181K) May 2006
This briefing highlights the risks of GM animal feed and who is bringing it into the UK.
Calling the shots
(PDF† format - 462K) Jan 2006
Through a series of case studies, this briefing exposes the strategies
that supermarkets employ to ensure they get planning permission for new
stores.
Checking
out the environment? Environmental impacts of supermarkets
(PDF format - 142K) Jun
2005
This briefing provides an outline of the environmental impacts of large supermarket
chains at the local, national and global scale.
Good
neighbours? Community impacts of supermarkets
(PDF
format - 110K) Jun 2005
This briefing looks at the economic and social effects of the competitive
policies of large supermarket chains, and the subsequent impacts on
local communities in the UK.
Government
to publish final GM Farm Scale Trial results: Winter oilseed rape
(PDF format - 220K) Mar
2005
The Government publishes the results of its field scale trials
of genetically modified (GM) winter oilseed rape on 21st March. These
are the final results from the Government’s Farm Scale Evaluations
of GM herbicide tolerant crops. This short briefing, by Friends of the
Earth, the GM Freeze Campaign and GeneWatch UK, covers many of the key
questions the results are likely to raise.
Super
Markets or Corporate Bullies?
(PDF format) Mar 2003
Supermarkets claim to offer us a wide variety of cheap, convenient food.
But do they? And at whose expense? This briefing looks at the power
supermarkets wield over both their suppliers and their customers.
Genetically Modified
Crops and Food
(PDF format) July 2001,
updated Jan 2003
A comprehensive introduction to the GM debate:
- What is GM?
- Concerns about GM crops and food
- GM crops and food in the UK
- Government failures
- Feeding the world
- Alternatives
British
Apples for Sale
(PDF†) November 2002
The results of our consumer survey of apple sourcing and pricing in
supermarkets, greengrocers and markets.
The pesticides
in our food
(PDF format - 155K) Sep
2002, updated Aug 2004
An overview of the types of pesticides that are found in our food and
why they are of concern.
Supermarkets
and Great British Fruit
(PDF†) October 2002
The impossible conditions placed on British apple and pear growers
by supermarkets.
Pesticides
in Supermarket food
(PDF format 122K) Oct
2002, updated July 2004
This briefing shows how we rated supermarkets according to their current
and future policy on pesticides.
Into the mouths of
babes
(PDF format - 54K) Mar
2002
Children are exposed to pesticides from the moment they are conceived
yet very little is know about the long term effects of this exposure.
The Government and supermarkets should do more to protect children from
pesticides.
Greening
the Red Tractor
(PDF format) Dec 2001
In June 2000, a new food mark - the British Farm Standard - was launched.
The logo is a Red Tractor and is being heavily promoted as providing
assurance that food bearing the mark has been produced to high environmental,
animal welfare and safety standards. Friends of the Earth feels that
the scheme, as it stands, fails to live up to its promises both to farmers
and consumers.
The Farm
Scale Trial crops - GM maize, beet and oilseed rape
(PDF format) Mar 2001
This briefing provides basic information about the crops being grown
in the Farm Scale Trials (FST's). Three crops are being grown: fodder
maize, oil seed rape and beet.
Farm Scale
Trials - a short critique
March 2000
This briefing explains why the Farm Scale Trials are not needed, are
a waste of money and are a threat to the environment. It also discusses
the issue of liability.
Endocrine
disrupting pesticides
Oct 1999
Endocrine disrupting pesticide residues in food pose a significant health
risk to humans. The scientific information currently available suggests
a highly precautionary approach is needed to avoid serious health problems
in the future.
Bees, Honey
and Genetically Modified Crops
Sept 1999
Growing GM crops in the UK will pose a serious threat to beekeepers
and honey production in the UK. This briefing covers the issues of food
safety, liability, the cost to beekeepers and the threat to wild bee
populations.
Antibiotic
Resistance Genes in GM Foods
April 1999
Many genetically modified (GM) plants contain antibiotic resistance
marker genes. This briefing shows how these genes might spread, threatening
the effectiveness of some of our most important antibiotic drugs.
Get real about
food and farming - Friends of the Earth's vision for the future of farming
in the UK
(PDF format 819K) October
2001
Farming is in crisis. For half a century, food and farming policy has
put production ahead of food quality and environmental protection. Get
real about food and farming is a clear blueprint with practical policy
recommendations for improving every step of the food chain.
The great food
gamble
(PDF format) May 2001
GM food and feed safety are a matter of hot debate. This report outlines
the methods that are used to assess the safety of these new foods before
they go on the market. It suggests that the current systems fall short
of what is expected by the public
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