FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CHOCOLATE BUYERS SHOULD AVOID NESTLE NOT TOBLERONE: GREENPEACE
ZURICH-- 27 March 1997--As Easter approaches Greenpeace today warned that traditional Easter chocolates, including those made by Nestle, could contain genetically engineered materials but emphasised the Toblerone brand does not contain these materials.
A chocolate scare hit Switzerland this week as chocolate manufacturer Kraft Jacob Suchard had to recall 500 tonnes of its famous Toblerone chocolate after a spot-check by government authorities discovered the lecithin it was made with contained genetically engineered (GE) soya beans. The company had been told by its suppliers that the lecithin was free of GE soya (The use of GE soya beans had been illegal in food production until a Swiss government decision on Tuesday). The scare has led to retailers in Austria, Sweden and Germany rejecting Toblerone chocolate.
About 95% of the contaminated Toblerone was for the Swiss market and that has all been withdrawn from sale. The remaining five percent, for export, was either stopped at the border or was being collected.
"Greenpeace is now satisfied that Toblerone is GE free. Kraft Jacob Suchard has taken highly responsible action in recalling its GE contaminated stock, " said Stefan Weber of Greenpeace Switzerland.
Kraft Jacob Suchard has also committed not to use genetically altered soya beans in its chocolate despite the Swiss government decision on Tuesday to disallow a legal challenge by consumer and environment groups against the use of GE materials in food production. (These groups are taking their case to the Swiss Supreme Court) .
However the remainder of the Swiss chocolate industry, such as Nestle, have refused to make a similar commitment and therefore their products could potentially be contaminated with genetically altered soya beans.
"Consumers need to be aware that it is not Kraft's Toblerone which is the problem -- it is chocolate made by other companies such as Nestle, who have not listened to consumers and who are continuing to use GE soy in their food," Weber said.
Weber said that companies like Nestle were hiding behind the excuse that they could not find any GE free lecithin or substitute product. However Greenpeace understands that a shipment of GE-free soya beans from Brazil wll shortly be coming to Europe.
"The responsibility is up to the legislators to properly control genetic engineering," Weber said.
For information:
Stefan Weber Greenpeace Switzerland 00-411-4474141 mobile - 0041-79-4056820
Jon Walter Greenpeace International 00-3120-523 6222