TL: FACT SHEET ON UNILEVER'S POSITIONS ON GMO SO: Greenpeace International, (GP) DT: January 28, 1997 Unilever: are conning the public and stalling for time. Public statements have given the impression that they are not using genetically engineered (GE) soya, and that they want GE- free supplies. In fact, all their statements have carefully kept open the option to go ahead and use genetically engineered soya in their foods. Their confusing stance allows soya bean suppliers to get away with ignoring consumer wishes - the very wishes Unilever says are uppermost in their minds when buying or not buying GE soya. In their statements Unilever have: * STALLED FOR TIME. By effectively saying - "we're OK now - but we may not be in future" Unilever are hoping protests will die down before they have to make a definite decision on where to buy their soya supplies. In the UK they said "Van den Bergh Foods UK (UK Unilever) does not CURRENTLY use genetically modified soya." In Sweden they said, "we don't use any genetically engineered soya AT THIS TIME." But they added ... "we will provide comprehensive information to consumers should (we) start to use ingredients derived from GM (genetically modified) soya in future" (UK), and "how our position will be in the future is dependent on our discussion between the remaining part of the food industry, food retailers and food producers." (Sweden). * LOOKED TOUGH BUT ACTED WEAK. Publically Unilever has called for segregation of genetically engineered beans from traditional varieties, but in some countries, the UK for example, they have already decided that it is "not feasible", and "not economically viable." If they had a unified stance they would be better able to demand GE-free soya, forcing grain suppliers to supply it. * PROMISED MUCH BUT PROVIDED LITTLE. They say they will give consumers what they want, but in response to overwhelming consumer rejection of GE foods they say they will still use them. They intend to deal with consumer fears largely by providing information leaflets. The majority of Europeans surveyed in a recent MORI opinion poll were opposed to the development of genetically modified food. * AVOIDED A CLEAR COMMITMENT TO REMAIN GE-FREE. By insisting on a country by country position Unilever are denying consumers a clear answer. In some countries, including Germany, shoppers are being protected from the products, while in others ge foods may appear simply because shoppers there are less demonstrative. Unilever Statements: OVERALL: Unilever consistently states that they: "take a positive view of genetic engineering" and "are convinced of the safety of the new soyabeans". (Unilever Germany) Nevertheless they stress that whether or not they use GE soya depends on the consumer. "Ultimately the products we use depend on consumer acceptance." (Unilever Germany) ON THE ISSUE OF GOING GE-FREE: - In Germany, where consumers have clearly rejected GE soya in their foods, Unilever admitted they were "flexible with regard to the use of different oils and fats...." (4th October letter from Dr. M Hermann) and then on 24th October agreed to stop selling foods containing edible oils from genetically modified soy beans. But in other countries Unilever has carefully kept its options open. * UK: said "there is no reason for us not to continue to use soya." (letter 3rd October) and in a later statement confirmed that although its company in the UK, Van Den Bergh Foods UK don't currently use GE soya "it will provide comprehensive information to consumers should it start to .... in future." (20th December). Then on 20th January 1997 the company confirmed that they would be likely to start using ge soya in major food items from the end of February. * Switzerland: said they would try to avoid genetically engineered material - but have so far been unsuccessful. Although they have Brazilian supplies to last until around Summer they have not ruled out using GE supplies after that. * Sweden: have at least looked for other supplies and have enough for a few months. They also say "how our position will be in the future is dependent on our discussion between the remaining part of the food industry, food retailers and food producers." * Denmark: says that "Van den Bergh Foods in Denmark traditionally only use an insignificant part of the soya products imported to Denmark. If we in the future would start selling products containing the new GM soya we would of course follow the authoritative decisions in Denmark." One newspaper reported that they don't use soya oil, because they use rape seed oil instead. The newspaper suggested that Unilever has not completely rejected GE soya because rape seed may be a future product to be genetically engineered. * Netherlands: confirm that Unilever companies "are free to use ingredients derived from RRS beans" ..... but "the decision .........is .... taken by our operating companies" and "will vary from country to country." * Belgium: has followed the UK's stance that the beans are safe. * Austria: have said they do not currently use GE soya and will not do so for the foreseeable future. ON THE ISSUE OF SEPARATION OF TRADITIONAL BEANS FROM GE BEANS: * Germany: are "pushing the soya industry to separate" and have said US farmers should consider this if they want to gain access to the European market. * UK: first said "systematic segregation of varieties of soya with identical end-user properties is just not feasible" (3rd October 1996) and later a spokesperson quoted a different position in the FT. "In terms of the huge quantities wanted by companies such as ourselves," said the spokesperson, "segregation (by the suppliers) is not economically viable. But it's always possible for smaller quantities to be segregated." However, they said "Unilever has put pressure on soya suppliers to separate conventional from modified soya beans and will continue to pursue this goal in conjunction with consumer organisations, environmental groups, government bodies and the retail trade." * Sweden: "want to actively work for segregation". * Netherlands: "have been seeking to secure the segregation of genetically modified soya crops. We regret that despite these efforts, segregations have not yet proved possible." * Switzerland: will try to find GE free supplies but say they have so far been unsuccessful. They support a joint industry call for segregation. * Austria: are in favour of segregation