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Information Sheet
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Genetically Engineered Food
THE VEGETARIAN SOCIETY
“Genetically Modified products or products containing Genetically Modified ingredients are not acceptable to the Vegetarian Society because the Society believes it is impossible to guarantee that such products are completely in accordance with the Society’s vegetarian principles.” The policy statement was subsequently updated on the 21 August 1999 to read: “The Vegetarian Society considers that GM ingredients do not comply with the Seedling Symbol criteria. The Society aims for all Seedling Symbol approved products to be free from GM ingredients and their derivatives as from 1 August 1999. Any company wishing to use the Society’s Seedling Symbol is contractually obliged to meet the approval criteria that ensures products are free from meat, fish, fowl, shellfish, battery eggs, products or ingredients tested on animals since 1986, or genetically modified ingredients. The Society is concerned that the introduction of GM foods could pose a potential risk to the environment, animal welfare and human health. The majority of cheese suitable for vegetarians is made using an enzyme developed with the use of biotechnology. This enzyme is produced using proven technology under controlled conditions with no environmental, animal welfare or human health implications. This enzyme is used in replacement of traditional rennet, which is taken from the stomach of a calf. The Vegetarian Society continues to endorse vegetarian cheese as a suitable replacement for cheese made with traditional animal rennet.” Why the new policy was introduced The policy reflects the widespread unease of the Society’s members and consumers in general regarding the proliferation of gene technology. The Society believes that insufficient research has been done into the potential environmental and health implications of the genetic manipulation of plants. In addition the extensive animal experimentation undertaken during the development of new varieties of plants is contrary to the Society’s principles. How this affects the Society’s V symbol All companies licensed to use the Society’s V symbol (aka seedling device) on their products had to ensure that all genetically modified ingredients were removed by 1 August 1999, should they have wished to continue to display the symbol and claim our approval. The policy covers all genetically modified ingredients, not just those where the DNA or protein is still present. While many holders of the symbol’s products are and will remain GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) free, it was not possible to alter the then current 12 month contracts with some licensees until they came up for renewal, hence the final cutoff date of 1 August 1999. All new licensees from 1 August 1998 were required to be GMO free.
Vegetarian cheese produced using chymosin from modified yeast (see below) will continue to be endorsed by the Society. Animal genes in normally vegetarian food No normally vegetarian food on sale in the UK contains copies of animal or fish genes. In addition, after consultation with the Vegetarian Society, the Government has accepted that if this does occur and the DNA of the inserted gene is still present in the final product it will be labeled with a phrase such as “contains copies of pig genes”. The general feeling in the food industry is that no manufacturer would be happy marketing any product so labelled. Legislation GM foodstuffs on the market in the UK covered by the Society’s policy Tomatoes – GM tomatoes have been produced in which the gene which makes them go soft has been “switched off” by making a copy of the gene, turning it around, and reintroducing it into the tomato. This allows the tomato to ripen on the vine and retain its firmness after harvesting. It was only available in this country as tomato puree sold only in Sainsburys and Safeway stores in cans which were voluntarily fully labeled to indicate the origin of the tomatoes. The product is no longer available, the last tin being sold in July 1999. Soya – Monsanto’s Roundup Ready soya bean now makes up about 40% of the US crop, which is on the whole not segregated before export. The soya plant has been modified to be resistant to the Monsanto herbicide Roundup by the insertion of three “foreign” genes (from a petunia, a soil bacterium and a cauliflower). Around 60% of manufactured products contain ingredients at least in part derived from soya, including bread, ready meals, margarine, confectionery and biscuits. Maize – Most UK imports come from areas not yet growing GM maize, the use of which is mainly for animal feed, but as other areas start growing the maize it will appear more commonly in human foodstuffs. GM foodstuffs on the market in the UK not covered by the Society’s policy Chymosin – The majority of traditional cheese has always been made with rennet from a calf’s stomach. The active enzyme within the rennet, chymosin, was identified over ten years ago and copied into yeast cells which in turn now produce an enzyme which is identical to the animal one, allowing a vegetarian cheese to be easily produced on a commercial scale. The Vegetarian Society has approved this process since its Government approval introduction 1991. As a result of the introduction of chymosin the demand for calf rennet has declined hugely. The Society will continue to approve chymosin because it is produced using a significantly different technology under controlled conditions. At present around 90% of cheese produced in the UK uses this technology, whether it is marked as vegetarian or not. Plant and fungal rennet replacements do exist, but they tend to be difficult to work with, and in practice are mainly used in small scale operations. If you wish to avoid GM chymosin, organic vegetarian cheeses still use the plant or fungal enzyme in their production. Other Symbols The Soil Association’s organic symbol also guarantees GM free status.
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