Dubai: Forty per cent of food in the UAE is genetically modified yet without proper labelling laws here, consumers are unaware their purchases are not completely natural.
In a food test between the UAE, Kuwait and Qatar, the Emirates has the highest incidence of genetically engineered (GE) contaminated food according to Greenpeace who are currently in the Arabian Gulf with their flagship vessel, the Rainbow Warrior.
Greenpeace carried out a study of 35 items bought into the UAE, Kuwait and Qatar and found that the majority were contaminated with genetically modified organisms (GMO). Out of the 35 products, 11 were bought in the UAE and seven of them tested positive for GMOs.
Arnaud Apoteker, a Greenpeace GM campaigner said Greenpeace is calling for a ban of genetically modified (GM) food or at least for correct labelling on GM products to give consumers a choice.
“In Europe if an item contains more than 0.9 per cent of GMOs it is required to carry a label. Big brands have decided not to use GMOs because the labels are affecting sales. When surveyed, 60 per cent of consumers do not want to buy a GM product,'' said Apoteker.
“The production of GM crops is on the increase by about 20 per cent every year. The US is the highest producer of GM crops and do not have any labelling laws either. About two thirds of Americans do not know that they are eating GM food,'' said Apoteker.
Origin
Crops that are genetically engineered to withstand certain pesticides for example are maize, rapeseed oil, soy beans and cotton. Maize, rapeseed and soy are used for animal feed, therefore Greenpeace is pushing for animal products to be labelled as containing GMOs as well.
“The first GM crop was engineered in 1996 in the United States. In 2005, 100 million hectares were used for GM crop farming,'' said Apoteker.
“A lot of countries import American products and most GM products originate from the US which is why we focused on them in our test,'' he added.
The UAE, Qatar and Kuwait have no legislation enforcing GM foods to be labelled, said Andi Freimueller, project coordinator for the Greenpeace International Genetic Engineering Campaign.
Freimueller said procedures were going quite slowly in getting a law drafted in these three countries. He highlighted a scandal in 2006 involving an unapproved rice variety called LL601 which ended up in the market anyway due to genetic pollution. Greenpeace purchased five packages of US long grain rice in the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait. Testing showed that four out of five packs, or 80 per cent were contaminated with LL601.
“It is important to remember that this particular variety of rice had not been approved for consumption anywhere in the world at that time. Some of the supermarkets we notified swiftly removed the rice in question from their shelves for further testing.
“However, we saw much less reaction from the authorities," said Freimueller.
Products bought in UAE containing GMOs
Munch King Nacho Cheese
Tostitos Tortilla Crispy Rounds
Funyuns Frito Lay Onion Rings
Quaker Yellow Corn meal
Doritos Nacho Cheesier
Fritos Corn Chips
Doritos Nacho Cheese
What is GMO?
A genetically modified organism (GMO) is a plant, animal or microorganism whose genetic code has been altered, subtracted, or added (either from the same species or a different species) in order to give it characteristics that it does not have naturally. Little is known about the long-term effects of such manipulations on both humans and the environment.
Greenpeace tested 11 products in the UAE and the following contained GMOs. Items tested by Biosmart analytical laboratories in Switzerland.
For more information log on to www.greenpeace.org (English), www.greenpeace.org.lb (Arabic)
Your comments
Consumers have the right to make an informed choice and it is time that UAE implements a fair consumer protection court for it multicultural consumers.
A. Kewalramaney
Dubai,UAE
Products containing GMOs should be labelled. We have the right to know what we are eating, and to choose if we want to eat genetically altered food.
Maryam
Sharjah,UAE
