Genetically modified (GM) food has been thrown into the spotlight by the draft consumer protection regulations that stipulate that food producers have to label all food that contains more than 5 percent genetically modified maize, soya beans or imported canola oil.
But NGOs say the regulations are weak and will limit consumers’ right to choose.
Africa Centre for Biosafety director Mariam Mayet said last week that the 5 percent threshold was “very ambiguous and highly misleading”, as it did not explain if it applied to single ingredients or the total contents of food products.
The regulations say that if manufacturers cannot test for genetically modified organisms, then food can be labelled: “May contain genetically modified food”, which gives them a convenient loophole.
“This is contrary to the spirit of the new legislation, which is to provide consumers with adequate information,” Mayet said.
European trading partners only tolerated a 0.9 percent threshold, so it made sense to set South Africa’s threshold at the same level to develop one segregation system for local and international foods, she said.
The regulations only specify disclosure for maize, soya and canola. Other products would be excluded from labelling, giving consumers the impression they were buying food that was free of genetically modified organisms.
“The Department of Trade and Industry must draft (legislation) in a clever way so it covers future crops,” Mayet said. Genetically modified salmon has been approved in the US and there have been attempts to register genetically modified potatoes in South Africa.
But Mayet said the department should be applauded for pushing ahead with greater disclosure of genetically modified content in food.
“Our concern is about the growing dominance of a small number of seed companies, which are increasing control over food production.”
Three of the largest genetic engineering companies operate in South Africa: Monsanto, Pioneer Hi-Bred (a subsidiary of DuPont) and Syngenta.
Monsanto controlled 50 percent of the local market for maize seed in 2009. South Africa’s largest seed company, Pannar Seed, sells genetically modified seed varieties under licence from Monsanto. Pannar was recently subject to a takeover bid by Pioneer Hi-Bred.
Fahrie Hassan, the media liaison for the Label GM Foods Campaign, said a French research team study showed that the concerns about genetically modified food included that consumption of the food by rats resulted in organ damage. Claims by multinational biotechnology companies that their animal studies showed no ill-effects of genetically modified food consumption could not be considered accurate because independent studies refuted their findings, he said.
“We just don’t know what the long-term effects on humans will be and of particular concern is that South Africa is the only country that has allowed its staple food to be genetically modified.” About 60 percent of maize sold locally is genetically modified.
Mayet said there were many hotly contested food safety issues. “There are concerns about the imprecise nature of the technology and whether there is an impact on vulnerable people, such as those who are HIV positive.”
Woolworths managing director of food Zyda Rylands said since 2001 the company had been labelling food containing genetically modified ingredients. “We remove or replace ingredients derived from genetically modified crop sources where we can. Where we can’t, we clearly label products that may contain genetically modified ingredients.
“We believe in providing customers with sufficient product information to make informed choices. Our GM policy exceeds current regulatory requirements.”
Some major food brand owners were reluctant to enter the debate. AVI, which produces Five Roses tea, Provita biscuits and Ellis Brown creamer, declined to comment.
Bongiwe Njobe, the corporate sustainability director at Tiger Brands, said that “until the regulations are published, we are unable to comment. We await the release of the regulations, which are due month end. At that time we’ll review and take time to understand the impact.”
A Unilever spokesman said: “Unilever supports the responsible use of biotechnology within the framework of effective regulatory control and provision of information about its use. We conduct our operations in accordance with the laws of the land. Currently there are no regulations in place in South Africa that mandate the measuring of the presence of genetically modified foods.”
Comments on the draft consumer protection regulations must reach the department before the end of today.