Leaflet on genetically-modified foods contains misleading information, lobby group claims

A consumer information leaflet on genetically-modified foods, launched this week by the Centra and Super-Valu supermarket chains, is to be referred to the Director of Consumer Affairs because of alleged misleading information.

Genetic Concern, the group which lobbies against the introduction of modified foods in the absence of further testing, has written to the director complaining about the leaflet. The letter was sent yesterday and claimed that the leaflet "contains information which will mislead the public".

The leaflet indicated that the supermarkets were providing "meaningful and accurate information" so that the consumer could make an informed choice about modified foods. It also said the supermarket chains would begin labelling products and ingredients derived from modified soya and maize "in accordance with EU regulations".

Super-Valu was "part of the IBEC working group" on the modified food issue, a company spokeswoman said yesterday. The leaflet was prepared in conjunction with IBEC and in light of the EU regulations. The company was "going to continue to provide the leaflets", she added.

The complaint by Genetic Concern related to the reference to the EU regulations, according to Mr Quentin Gargan of Genetic Concern. Few consumers understood the regulations and would assume that all modified foods would be labelled as such, he said, but this was not the case.

The regulations did not cover ingredients such as modified oils, lecithin, starch and other additives, so the consumer was being denied a choice or information enabling him to avoid modified products. "We are not saying it is dishonest, we are saying it is misleading," he added.

The Director of Consumer Affairs did not respond to lobbies, it responded to complaints, according to a spokesman, who said he had no information about the leaflet. "If anybody makes a false or materially misleading statement, then it is subject to the legislation." The director would look at any complaint it received but that did not imply wrongdoing.