September 10, 2009 – Nestlé, Hindustan Unilever, Kellogg, Cadbury, Agro Tech Foods Ltd, FieldFresh Foods Pvt Ltd (a unit of Bharti Enterprises), Bambino Agro Industries Ltd, Britannia Industries Ltd, Godrej Hershey Foods, Parle and Safal are in the Red list of Safe Food Guide released by Greenpeace India, a leading international NGO.

Greenpeace ranks 16 well-known food brands in India in the guide. It places food manufacturers like MTR, Dabur, Haldiram, ITC Foods, PepsiCo India and Ruchi Soya in the green list based on their stand to Greenpeace that their products are GM-free. Greenpeace demands that food businesses voluntarily adopt a no-GM policy, because of the risks to health and environment.

They should take proactive steps to label themselves GM-free. Greenpeace believes that consumers can help replace industrial agriculture of genetically engineered crops, with sustainable farming that has low external inputs, protects biodiversity, and helps meet food and employment needs.

According to Safe Food Guide, Cadbury has not said a word about their stand on GM foods. This implies that if permitted by the Indian Government they may use these ingredients. On the other extreme are corporations like Nestlé and Hindustan Unilever, which have stated they would use GM-derived ingredients.

Consumers and farmers are the most significant stakeholders of the food industry and have, across the world, determined the direction in which the industry has moved. Across the European Union, for instance, consumers have rejected GM foods, creating a GM-free food market. Similar examples exist in China and Brazil.

In India, rice exporters to the EU have worked to create a GM-free rice zone consisting of basmati rice cultivating states. A shift away from GM foods is possible and businesses can adapt to it. The Greenpeace India guide would indicate where the processed food industry stands on GM foods, and would help consumers identify food brands and their positions.

While releasing the guide, Jai Krishna of Greenpeace India demanded that "food businesses adopt a no-GM policy, because of the risks to health and environment, and take proactive steps to inform consumers about the presence or absence of GM ingredients in their products".

"The safety of GM crops as a foodstuff for animals and humans is unknown and the testing regimes are inadequate," Jai Krishna said.

He alleged, "Studies on laboratory animals (rats) have pointed out potential health risks, including allergies, abnormal growth of organs such as liver and kidney and many unpredictable effects".

The "Safe Food Guide" is a first of its kind in India, and ranks 16 well-known food brands. The guide comes at a time when the Indian Government is on the verge of approving genetically modified Bt Brinjal. Following-Bt Brinjal, there are close to 40 other food crops, like rice, tomato, mustard, and potato, which the Indian Government may approve.

“The safety of GM crops as a foodstuff for animals and humans is unknown and the testing regimes are inadequate. Studies on lab rats show potential health risks including allergies, abnormal growth of liver and kidney and many unpredictable effects. Therefore, this guide plays an important role in informing consumers,” Jai Krishna, GM Markets Campaigner, Greenpeace India, said.

The guide also comes in a pocket-sized version and lists companies based on their responses to Greenpeace India. Bejon Misra, Managing Trustee, Healthy You Foundation, received the first copy of the guide.

“It is an excellent tool for the consumers to become aware about GMOs. This initiative by Greenpeace has brought these positions of food brands in the open. This would empower consumers to make an informed choice,” Misra said.