March 20, 2013
Top Grocery Stores: We Won’t Sell Genetically Engineered Seafood
Trader Joe’s, Aldi, Whole Foods, Marsh Among Stores That Will Reject GE Fish
Washington, D.C. — A coalition of consumer, health, food safety and fishing groups today launched the “Campaign for Genetically Engineered (GE)-Free Seafood” by announcing that several major grocery retailers representing more than 2,000 stores across the United States have already committed not to sell genetically engineered seafood if it is allowed onto the market.
The growing market rejection of GE fish comes as the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) conducts its final review of a genetically engineered salmon. If approved, the salmon would be the first-ever genetically engineered animal allowed to enter the human food supply.
Stores that have committed to not offer the salmon or other genetically engineered seafood include the national retailers Trader Joe’s (367 stores), Aldi (1,230 stores), Whole Foods (346 stores in U.S.); regional chains such as Marsh Supermarkets (93 stores in Indiana and Ohio) and PCC Natural Markets (9 stores in Washington State); and co-ops in Minnesota, New York, California, and Kansas.
“We applaud these retailers for listening to the vast majority of their customers who want sustainable, natural seafood for their families. Now it’s time for other food retailers, including Walmart, Costco, and Safeway to follow suit and let their customers know they will not be selling unlabeled, poorly studied genetically engineered seafood,” said Eric Hoffman, food and technology policy campaigner with Friends of the Earth.
“Consumers Union has serious concerns about the safety of the first genetically engineered fish, a salmon engineered to grow to maturity twice as fast as wild salmon,” said Michael Hansen, PhD, senior scientist with Consumers Union, the advocacy arm of Consumer Reports. “FDA decided based on data from just six fish that there was no increased risk to people with fish allergies. However, even these meager data suggest that these fish show increased allergic potential.”
Consumer opposition to genetically engineered animals is strong. The majority of Americans say they won’t eat genetically engineered seafood, and 91 percent of Americans say the FDA should not allow it onto the market ([Lake Research poll.) (1) Eighty-percent of Americans who regularly eat fish say that sustainable practices are “important” or “very important” to them, according to a 2013 NPR poll. (2)
“We won’t sell genetically engineered fish because we don’t believe it is sustainable or healthy,” said Trudy Bialic from PCC Natural Markets in Washington State. “It is troubling that the FDA is recommending approval of AquaBounty’s salmon as a ‘new animal drug,’ subjecting these engineered creatures to less rigorous safety standards than food additives. That’s not a credible safety assessment.”
“Simply put, this genetically engineered fish is unnecessary and is a problem masquerading as a solution,” said Heather Whitehead, online campaigns director at Center for Food Safety. “We’re excited to see that grocery retailers agree that there is no need to introduce an unnecessary, unpopular and risky new technology to the marketplace without adequate assessment, posing risks to human health, the environment, wild salmon, and the sustainable fishing industry.”
The FDA has stated it will likely not label genetically engineered salmon, providing consumers no way of knowing if the fish they are feeding their families is genetically engineered. At least 35 other species of genetically engineered fish are currently under development, and the FDA’s decision on this genetically engineered salmon application will set a precedent for other genetically engineered fish and animals (including cows, chickens and pigs) to enter the global food market. (3)
To avoid confusion in the marketplace and ensure sustainable seafood, a coalition of 30 groups led by Friends of the Earth–including the Center for Food Safety, Food & Water Watch, Consumers Union, and Healthy Child Healthy World–are asking grocery stores, seafood restaurants, chefs, and seafood companies to join the Pledge for GE-Free Seafood and publicly commit to not knowingly purchase or sell genetically engineered salmon or other genetically engineered seafood. The Pledge for GE-Free Seafood is another way for grocery stores to let their customers know about their purchasing policies.
“Parents are busy enough without having to worry if they’re feeding their kids genetically engineered seafood. That’s why we’re excited about the Pledge for GE-Free Seafood,” said Alexandra Zissu, editorial director of Healthy Child Healthy World, a family advocacy group. “Since the FDA will likely not label genetically engineered fish, this pledge will help parents– and all of us–know where we can safely shop to avoid eating the unknown. Then the focus can return to family meal fun, not risk management.”
“Most consumers don’t want to eat genetically engineered salmon, but without mandatory labeling it will be hard for them to avoid. That’s why the stores who have committed to not to sell genetically engineered seafood are making a smart move and giving their customers what they want–a way to avoid this controversial, unnecessary biotech fish,” said Patty Lovera, assistant director of Food & Water Watch.
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NOTE: Stores named in this release as having a GE-free fish policy have communicated their policies to not source or sell genetically engineered seafood in at least one of the following ways: by signing and returning the Pledge for GE-Free Seafood, direct email communication with Friends of the Earth, or through public statements or public corporate policies.
For additional comment:
Friends of the Earth, Eric Hoffman, 443-465-2219, ehoffman@foe.org; Adam Russell, 202-222-0751, arussell@foe.org; Stacy Malkan, 510-542-9224,stacydmalkan@gmail.com
PCC Markets, Trudy Bialic, 206-547-1222, trudy.bialic@pccsea.com
Center for Food Safety, Heather Whitehead, 415-826-2770, Abigail Seiler, pr@centerforfoodsafety.org
Food & Water Watch, 202-547-9359, Patty Lovera, 202-683-2465, plover@fwwatch.org;
Healthy Child, Healthy World, Alexandra Zissu, 646-486-2287, alexandra@healthychild.org
Consumers Union, Naomi Starkman, 917-539-3924, nstarkman@gmail.com
*More on the health and environmental risks of genetically engineered salmon.
*More information on the Pledge for GE-Free Seafood, including a directory of stores committed to not knowingly sourcing or selling genetically engineered seafood, can be found online at www.gefreeseafood.org.
*Grocery stores, restaurants and chefs can add their name to the Pledge for GE-Free Seafood by emailing gefreeseafood@foe.org.
*The letter sent to retailers asking them to make this commitment was signed by 30 consumer, food safety, fishing, environmental, sustainable agriculture, parent, public health and animal health and welfare organizations, representing millions of supporters, can be found here.
Notes:
(1) Lake Research Partners, Commissioned by Food and Water Watch, 9/20/10. “Americans in near unanimity on their disapproval of genetically engineered fish and meat in the marketplace.” http://www.saynotogmos.org/
(2) Barclay, Eliza. “Most Americans Eager To Buy Seafood That’s ‘Sustainable.’” National Public Radio, 12 Feb. 2013. http://www.npr.org/blogs/
(3) Genetically Engineered Fish. Center for Food Safety, Jan. 2013. http://www.