Strict labeling system for ‘GMO foods’ urged

Greenpeace, an international environmental group, called on the Philippine government to immediately enforce a "full and strict" labeling system for ingredients of food products derived from so-called genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

This, as leaders of Greenpeace, in a press conference marking World Consumer Rights Day, claimed that 11 food products sold in the local market contain GMO-derived ingredients.

The debate about GMOs and the possible health risks they pose to humans still rages throughout the world. Scientists believe that GMOs introduced to plant genes would boost agricultural production to meet the needs of a growing global population, but environmental groups warn of the dangers they might bring to people’s health.

Von Hernandez, Greenpeace campaign director for Southeast Asia, said they commissioned Hong Kong DNA Chips Ltd., a food-testing laboratory, to test 30 food products sold in Metro Manila supermarkets for the presence of GMO-derived ingredients. The tests were started last December.

"All 30 products were chosen for testing because they contained either soya or corn ingredients," he said.

He said the food-testing company used the standard Polyemerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test to check for the presence of gene sequences from the two most commonly grown types of "genetically engineered" crops, primarily corn and soya.

Based on these tests, Hernandez claimed the following 11 food products were found to contain GMO-derived ingredients: Bonus Vienna franks, Rica Protina hotdogs, Campo Carne Moby hotdogs, Purefoods Beefy hotdogs, Quality Foods budget franks, Crab Cake distributed by Foodmart Enterprises, Yung Ho soya drink, Doritos Smokey red barbecue, Nestle Nesvita natural cereal drink, Isomil Soy infant formula and Knorr cream of corn soup.

Greenpeace said the Philippines imports major quantities of corn and soya from the United States where there is widespread cultivation of genetically engineered crops.