Genetically engineered contamination

In Newcastle today, Greenpeace activists blocked a shipment of genetically engineered (GE) canola seeds, stopping the seeds from contaminating our food chain. It is the first ever GE canola shipment to enter Australia.

To stop the shipment, activists chained themselves to vehicles, blocking the gates that lead to the dock where the GE shipment is being unloaded. They declared the area a biohazard.

International grains trader Cargill discreetly imported the shipment of Canadian GE canola into Newcastle last Sunday. It is destined for margarine and canola oil, and in animal feed for the poultry and dairy industries.

Australia says no

Recent polls show that Australian consumers do not want GE in their food.

Says Louise Sales, Greenpeace GE campaigner, "We are taking action to prevent GE canola from sneaking unlabelled and unwanted into the food chain. Consumers have made it quite clear that they don't want GE."

Cheap GE canola is being imported into Australia under the false pretence that there is a shortage here. In reality, there is ample domestic supply to meet demand - it just has to be brought over from WA.

Support local farmers

Food producers should support Aussie farmers by buying their canola for a decent price rather than undercutting them with cheap imports. And we should protect our farmers' prized GE-free status. When GE canola seeds are let into Australia, there is no way to prevent them from contaminating our environment.

Four of Australia's main food companies using canola oil (Goodman Fielder, Unilever, Woolworths and McDonald's) say they have not bought any of the shipment. Goodman Fielder and Unilever state that they have listened to Australian consumers and rejected the GE canola.

Greenpeace are urging other major canola users, like Coles, Murray Goulburn and Inghams, to reject GE canola and keep Australia GE-free.