Green Peace Declares Safe Food Guide (2) For Indian Companies

Dabur, KRBL and Vippy have emerged as the top green companies, while Nestle, PepsiCo, Haldiram's and Hindustan Unilever Ltd, among others, have faired poorly in the recently released Safe Food Guide (version two) by Greenpeace, a non-profit organisation.

The Safe Food Guide ranks 25 of the most popular food companies in India according to their policy on genetically-modified (GM) foods. Based on their responsibility towards Indian consumers on the GM food issue, the guide categorises companies as 'green', 'yellow' and 'red'.

The green list, in fact, has only three companies: Dabur India, KRBL Ltd and Vippy Industries Ltd. These companies, Greenpeace says, have not only taken necessary steps to ensure that they remain GM-free now and in future, but also are ready to engage with the government and relevant industry associations to keep the Indian food market free from GM food.

The yellow list includes popular brands such as Cadbury, ITC, Ruchi Soya, LT Foods, Heinz India, Bambino Agro and Kohinoor Foods Ltd, which have said that that they are committed to sourcing ingredients that are GMO-free, but are yet to take a long-term position on being GM-free or share their position with consumers.
The red list includes companies such as Nestlé, PepsiCo, Cargill, Hindustan Unilever Ltd, Britannia, Godrej Hersheys Ltd, Haldiram's, MTR, Parle Biscuits, Agro Tech Foods, Surya Foods, Amul, GSK, FieldFresh (Bharti Enterprises) and Kellogg's. These companies have not taken any concrete steps to provide Indian consumers with GM-free food for now or in future, thereby being irresponsible

more on 
http://www.imagesfood.com/news.aspx?Id=2157&topic=2

Genetically Modified Crops to be covered under Food safey and standards act

Government today assured the Lok Sabha that all concerns related to genetically modified crops were covered under the Food Safety and Standards Act.



The assurance was given by Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Dinesh Trivedi in the Lok Sabha.

He said during Question Hour that the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 covers such products.


"Parliament has passed the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006, integrating the multiplicity of provisions under various food related laws and inter alia regulating the food safety standards and uniform licensing in the country," he said, adding even life imprisonment could be given to culprits.



Trivedi also said the government had constituted the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India in September, 2008 to carry out the purposes of Act.
 
Source -PTI

Bt Brinjal to be launched soon in India

Genetically modified ( GM ) brinjal might be launched soon as per the ministry of environment ,Govt of India . The committee set up to check the food safety and health of consumers aspect has submitted its findings to the government . If there are no major concerns then Bacillus Thuringiensis (Bt) brinjal would be released for commercial release of the transgenic (GM) seed. India would become the first nation to launch Bt products for commercial production .A genetic modification involves altering the DNA of the seed to make it resist the shoot borer insects and enhance its quality

This Bt Brinjal seed has been developed by MAHYCO (Maharastra hybrid seed company) with collaboration with the University of Agricultural Sciences at Dharwad in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.

Delay in launch of GM products has been the stay put by Supreme Court on ground PIL submitted against Bt seeds . Committee has submitted its finding to the genetic engineering approval committee( GEAC) constituted by ministry of environment , government of India .

The All India Crop Biotechnology Association said that about 40 GM food crops, including banana, cabbage, castor, cauliflower, corn, groundnut, mustard, onion papaya, potato and tomato were at various research stages for developing their transgenic seeds that would be subjected to field trials for approval later.

Read

GreenPeace Red List have major fmcg companies in it

Britannia and Parle have been put into Green peace '' Red List '' for GM ( Geneticaly Modififed )food s . Other Fmcg companies mentioned in '' Red List '' are Nestle , Cadbury , Kellogs and Safal . Green Peace ''Safe List " on GM foods contains Haldiram , MTR,Dabur , ITC foods , Pepsico and Ruchi Soya .

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.

Read
Down load " Safe food Guide '' from Green Peace( PDF )