They say 1999 online news sources were wrong
We recently ran a story (GM: Mixed messages from Woolworths) about GMO foods and a Woolworths statement that promised to half the products containing GM ingredients by next year. In our research we relied on a 1999 article produced by Independent journalists that was headed; “Woolies to ban genetically modified food”.
We accused the food and clothing retailer of ambivalence. But they have written saying the story published 15 years ago was incorrect. Here follows the full text of the response from Neeran Naidoo, Corporate Communications Manager Woolworths Marketing, this week:
The article titled “Mixed messages from Woolworths” recently appeared on your website. The article is based on a story that first appeared on the IOL [Independent Online] website 15 years ago, in December 1999. The headline of the story claimed “Woolies to ban genetically modified food” and goes on to paraphrase Jonathan Herbert a senior executive at the time saying that Woolworths would remove all GM foods from its shelves by June 2000.
The headline of the IOL story is misleading, as Woolworths did not “ban” GM foods at the time. Neither did we say that we would remove all GM foods by 2000. Woolworths position has always been to avoid or label food products with GM ingredients so customers can make informed choices about the food they consumed.
Regrettably, Woolworths did not have a media relations office at the time and we are not aware of Woolworths raising its concerns about the misleading headline and inaccuracy in the story.
The current story in The Journalist claiming “Mixed messages from Woolworths” is therefore based on an incorrect premise. I would appreciate it if you can correct the story. We have not reneged on our promise. Currently only 5.3 % of our food contains GMOs and we have committed to reducing the number of products containing GM ingredients by 50% by June 2015.
We apologise unreservedly to Woolworths for any inconvenience our repetition of and reliance on the 1999 Independent story has caused.
Woolworths had 15 years to correct this statement – now that they are being held accountable to it they say it is incorrect? Shame on you yet again Woolworths! See what Grass has said to Woolworths here: http://grassconsumeraction.wordpress.com/2013/10/18/woolworths-gmo-labelling/
According to this Facebook site – these are the items that contain (a list supplied by Woolworths) that they have not been able to source non GM alternatives for – so why are they not labelled as containing GM then!?
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=605577919466044&id=115867898437051
Ok so I have asked Woolworths which of their products contain are derived from GMO crops or livestock and this was their response:
Thank you for your e-mail
Woolworths labelling has always aimed to provide our customers with sufficient and accurate labelling information to help them make informed buying decisions.
It is not illegal for products to contain GM ingredients in SA, however some of our customers, prefer not to consume products that contain ingredients derived from GM crop sources. For this reason, in 1999 we resolved to remove or replace ingredients derived from GM crop sources from our recipes, wherever possible.
Other popular brands have a different approach to GM, Woolworths cannot comment on other brands and would suggest that you direct any queries you have to them direct.
I am in the process of forwarding your inquiry regarding Woolworths’ meat products to the relevant persons in order to provide you with accurate feedback. ”
I replied:
“You say “we resolved to remove or replace ingredients derived from GM crop sources from our recipes, wherever possible…”
Could you please provide a list of products where it was not possible to remove or replace GM ingredients so that I know what to avoid.”
They sent me the following list, AVOID THESE PRODUCTS AT ALL COSTS!!!:
=====================================================
100G COLD MEAT SELEC, 6009101411511
120G CHICKEN TWISTEE, 6009510803853
125G CREAMY CHEESE, 6009175940177
125G S/CREAM+B/PEP, 6009175940146
125G SALTED CRISPS, 6009175940115
125G SLICED CHICKEN, 6009000879559
125G SWEET BBQ, 6009175940184
150G MULTIGRAIN SALT, 6009175939041
150G SALSA, 6009175939508
1KG ORG LF VANILLA, 6001009008961
1KG ORGANIC LF PLAIN, 6009171345297
1KG RED VIENNA, 20187286
1KG SMOKED VIENNAS, 20102180
250G CHEESE VIENNAS, 20131067
250G CHICKEN VIENNA, 20117344
250G COLD MEAT ASSTD, 20000646
250G SANDWICH SELECT, 20104528
250ML WHIPPING CREAM, 20011710
300ML SOYA BERRY SMO, 6009000534182
30G STREAKY CRACKLES, 6009175940382
36G SALT+VINEGAR, 6009175413541
36G SALTED CRISPS, 6009175940030
36G SWEET BBQ, 6009175940078
375 CHEESE COCKT., 20092566
375g COCKTAIL VIENNA, 20075897
375g Halaal Beef Chs, 6009171558185
40G SALSA, 6009175939553
500G CHICKEN VIENNA, 6001009005779
500G CHOPPED HAM ROL, 6001009006073
500G Halaal Red Vien, 20175443
500g Halaal Smoked B, 6009171558208
500G RED VIENNAS, 20127992
500G SMOKED VIENNAS, 20063078
6 BBQ OSTRICH KEBABS, 6009000842782
750G CHICKEN ROLL, 6009000680599
750G FR/POLONY BOMB, 20102159
ACE MAIZE MEAL 2.5KG, 6001256000107
ACE MAIZE MEAL 5KG, 6001256000084
BAKERS CHOICE ASSORT, 6001056133005
BLACK BEAN SAUCE, 20175610
BROWN SANDWICH, 20067113
BULK DOUGHNUT PROMO, 6008000520508
CHEESE CURL PUFF120G, 6009000827895
CHEESE NAKS 165G, 6009000826461
CHEESE NAKS 22GX4, 6009000827314
CHEESE NAKS 30G, 6009000827307
CHICKEN / HERB, 6005000439953
CHICKEN L/F VIENNA, 6008000445948
CHICKEN LOAF, 6009178243398
CHINESE SAUCE BBQ, 20175641
CHOCKITS ORIGINAL 20, 6001056119009
CORNED MEAT, 6009178245217
CUP NOODLE-CHICKEN, 6001009018144
CUP NOODLE-VEGETABLE, 6001009018151
DOY THAI GREEN CURRY, 6001009021236
DOY THAI RED CURRY, 6001009021229
DOY TOM YUM SOUP, 6001009021205
ENGLISH MUFFINS, 20024697
FLOUR SELF.RAISING 1, 20082512
FRUIT CHUTNEY 125g, 6005000439960
FRUIT CHUTNEY 36g, 6005000439915
GREEN CURRY BOX, 6001009023254
HOISIN SAUCE, 20175603
INST NOODLE-CHICKEN, 6001009018168
INST NOODLE-CURRY, 6001009018182
INST NOODLE-MUSHROOM, 6001009018199
INST NOODLE-STIR FRY, 6001009018175
ITALIAN TUB, 6009173401311
IWISA MAIZE MEAL 10, 6001205090456
IWISA MAIZE MEAL 5 K, 6001205051181
KIDS CHICKEN VIENNA, 6009101392919
KIDS VIENNA, 6009101392902
Kikkoman Less Salt, 4139849
KIKKOMAN TAMARI SOYA, 41390008009
KIKKOMAN TERIYAKI, 4901515331794
MEAT BALLS/BEANS, 6009178243572
MEDITERRANEAN 125G, 6009000591659
MEXICAN TUB, 6009173401328
MINI DOUGHNUT, 2062890000001
NES KIT KAT4’S, 6001025101400
NES PEP CRISP LARGE, 60058041
NES ROLO LARGE, 60055965
NES SMARTIES 61G, 6001025104203
NES TEX LARGE, 6001025177207
NON FRIED – CHICKEN, 6001009018205
NON FRIED – MUSHROOM, 6001009018212
NYALA MAIZE MEAL 10K, 6001205151423
NYALA MAIZE MEAL 5KG, 6001205151355
OATS + HONEY WHITE B, 6009000547465
organic white slab, 6009171346652
ORIENTAL CHICKEN, 6009000570463
OTEE BAR CHOC 5X25G, 6001052004927
OYSTER SAUCE, 20175535
PASSIONS 300G, 6001068229208
PASTE BUTTER CHICKEN, 6009000734247
PASTE KORMA, 6009000734513
PASTE ROGAN JOSH, 6009000734520
PASTE TIKKA MASALA, 6009000733349
PASTE VINDALOO, 6009000734537
PICKLED JALEPENO, 6009000570470
ROAST CHICKEN 36g, 6005000439892
ROAST LAMB/HERB, 6001009011268
S/CREAM CHIVES 36g, 6005000439922
S/F CALAMARI GOUJONS, 6005000413007
SANDWICH WHITE BREAD, 20033897
SATAY MARINADE, 6009171421328
SAUCE SOYA, 20100506
SHREDDED TUNA IN OIL, 20186302
Simba 120g Baked Puf, 6009510803143
Simba 120g Twistees, 6009510803204
Simba 160g Baked Nak, 6009510803181
SINGLE CINNAMON DOUG, 2080540000003
SLIMMERS CR CHEESE, 6009101109357
SMKD CHICKEN VIENNAS, 6009178245293
SMOKED FRANKFURTER, 20090517
SOUR CREAM / CHIVES, 6005000439977
SPINACH+FETA PIZZA, 6008000611442
STIR FRY 210ML, 6005000039610
STIRFRY SAUCE 210ML, 6009173611925
STREAKY CRACKLE 100G, 6009178477823
SUPER SUN SUPER MAIZ, 6001695205613
SV ONION RINGS 75g, 6008000521604
SWEET INDONESIAN SAU, 20175658
SWEET SOUR SAUCE, 20175542
SWEET+SPICY BBQ 120G, 6009000827321
SWEETCORN MINI COBS, 20181345
THICK SLICE BROWN, 6001009005168
THICK SLICE WHITE, 20018702
TUNA CHUNK IN OIL, 20186319
TUNA SOLID OIL, 20071219
VENISON BURGER, 6009101602735
VINEGAR RICE, 20175566
W CRCHY PNT BTR 400G, 20026677
W PANCKE SYRP 250ML, 6008000738248
W SGR FRE CRCHY 400G, 6001009012685
W SMTH PNT BTR 400GR, 20026660
W SMTH PNT BTR 800GR, 20204389
WASABI, 6009000591635
WASABI PASTE 439, 8854958001273
WHITE STAR 2.5KG, 6001571015596
With the following disclaimer:
Products listed may not be available in all WOOLWORTHS stores. As product recipes and ingredients change from time to time, product information may change without notice. Although the greatest care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of this information, it’s recommended that this information is used as a guideline only and that product labels should be read with care.
mail: custserv@woolworths.co.za
You call yourself “The Journalist” and yet you bow to corporates. I’m sad to say that this is indicative of the times we live in. Grow a pair and then call yourself a journalist.
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okbet
Что вы знаете об этом? Вы когда-нибудь слышали это странное название – ОЗДС?
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