Green groups protest Kraft for using biotech crops
Reuters, October 30, 2003

WASHINGTON - About 1,000 activists across the United States this week targeted grocery stores and Kraft Foods (KFT.N: Quote, Profile, Research) facilities for the company's use of genetically engineered crops in its products. The Genetically Engineered Food Alert coalition, composed of U.S. environmental groups and consumer advocates, is leading a week-long demonstration against Kraft in more than 250 cities, including Washington, Chicago and San Francisco.

"We are choosing Kraft because its the largest food company," said Richard Caplan, spokesman for the activist group. "They have removed genetically engineered ingredients entirely from their European products and we are asking them to do the same in the United States."

Caplan said individual protests outside grocery stores and Kraft facilities ranged between 10 and 50 people. This is the fourth week of demonstrations against Kraft in the last two years.

The Northfield, Illinois-based company said its products, which include Oreo cookies and Honey Bunches of Oats cereal, were safe for consumers and would continue to use biotech ingredients.

Sarah Delea, a company spokeswoman, said Kraft does not use biotech crops in its European products because of strong consumer concerns. However, this is not the case in the United States, she said.

"We respect their right to express their views," Delea said. "But the safety of these ingredients have been confirmed."
The United States is the world's top producer of biotech crops. About 80 percent of the U.S. soybean crop and 40 percent of the corn crop are genetically modified varieties.