Exposing the “Shadow” of GMO food: Greenpeace Investigation on Unlabeled GMO Food Products in China’s Supermarkets

The issue of transparency surrounding GMO foods has always been a hot topic in China. Following consumers’ growing calls for their right to know, there have been increased demands on the Ministry of Agriculture of China to fulfil their obligations to disclose governmental information regarding GMOs, even leading to administrative action against the Ministry, by the public. In order to gain an understanding of domestic sales of GMO foods and how they are labeled and regulated, Greenpeace conducted an investigation across China’s first-tier cities. The test results show that 33% of the 43 randomly purchased food products contained GMO ingredients, while none of the samples had an identifying logo. Among the unlabeled samples containing GMO ingredients were well-known brands including Pringles, Nestlé and VV.

1. MethodologyBetween January and March 2015, Greenpeace investigators randomly selected 43 food products from major international and domestic supermarket chains (including Walmart, Carrefour, Hualian, Huapu, Wumart and Merrymart), across three first tier cities: Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. 18 of the purchased products were made in China, while the other 25 were imported. The samples included seven products made from rice, six from soybean, and 10 from corn. The remaining 20 products contained two or more of these ingredients. The types of sampled products ranged from rice noodles, baby rice cereal and breakfast cereal (such as cornflakes, powdered soymilk and oatmeal), to potato chips and biscuits. Before being sent to a certified independent laboratory for GMO ingredient screening, samples were removed of all packaging, repackaged and assigned with serial numbers. The lab that carried out these tests is DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025-2005 certified, which is a globally recognized accreditation for testing capacity.

Image 1: 7 March 2015- A sample of Nestlé Crunchy Coarse Grain Cereal from Merry Mart Yizhuang branch,

Beijing, which tested positive for GMO ingredients.

Image 2: 26 February 2015– A sample of Pringles Cheddar Cheese potato chips from Hualian, Chunxiu Road

branch, Beijing, which tested positive for GMO ingredients.

Image 3: 25 February 2015- A sample of the VV Group’s Soybean Milk Powder with Vitamin from Walmart,

Chaoyang District branch, Beijing, which tested positive for GMO ingredients.

2. Findings

2.1 More than 30% samples contain GMOs Test results from the certified independent lab show that 33% of all the samples contained at least one type of GMO ingredient and none of the positive samples were labeled with information about their GMO content (detailed test report is presented in Appendix). Included in the positive samples were some popular food items, such as breakfast cereal, rice noodles, potato chips and biscuits. It can be safely said that GMO food items have likely spread widely across the Chinese food market, constituting a substantial threat to consumers’ right to know and consequently, to choose.

Image 4: Products found to contain GMO ingredients.

2.2 Almost 40% of Imported Samples Contained GMOsImported food products, usually deemed ‘high-end’ and ‘safe’ by Chinese consumers, proved to be no better than their Chinese equivalents in avoiding or labeling GMO ingredients. 36% of the 25 imported samples (including one made in Hong Kong) tested positive for at least one GMO ingredient. Of particular note, eight out of the 14 US-produced food items (57%) tested positive, including cornflakes, potato chips, biscuits and cookies. In purchasing these imported food products with unlabeled GMO ingredients, Chinese consumers are in fact paying higher prices for a 'safer' product, unaware that they are still being exposed to the potential risks of GMO ingredients.

Image 5: Percentage of GMOs found in domestic vs imported food products.

2.3 Nestlé, Pringles, and VV Group Products are Found to Contain GMOsGMO content was detected in two out of nine (22%) Nestlé samples-the Crunchy Coarse Grain Cereal and the Milk & Egg Stars. VV Group’s Soybean Milk Powder with Vitamin and Pringles’ Cheddar Cheese Flavor Potato Chips (made in the US), were also found to contain GMO content.

2.4 Reemergence of illegal GMO Rice Products GMO rice content was also identified in a sample of Jiangxi Rice Noodles, from Lan Vang Foods. The Chinese authorities have not yet approved the commercial production and circulation of any type of transgenic rice or rice products, making the inclusion of GMO ingredients in this product illegal. The discovery of this kind of product on the Chinese market highlights not only the illegal practices in this industry, but also oversights in the authorities’ regulation of illegal GMO rice.

Image 6: 25 February 2015- A sample of Jiangxi Rice noodles purchased from Merry Mart, Sanlihe branch, Beijing,

which tested positive for GMO ingredients.

2.5 Loopholes in China’s GMO Labeling Regulations The Regulation of Labeling of Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms1 stipulates that five different categories and seventeen subcategories of GMOs are subject to labelling. The Food Labeling Management Regulations2 stipulate that GMO food or food with permitted GMO content must be labeled in Chinese. In fact, so far, no quantitative language exists in any regulations on GMO food labeling in China. Therefore, China’s GMO labeling regulation is in effect, operating on a de facto “Zero Tolerance” principle. However, Greenpeace’s investigations reveal that the “Zero Tolerance” principle is far from being effectively enforced in practice.

Liu Junhai, Professor of Remin University’s Law School and Vice President of the China Consumers’ Association, said: “Consumers’ right to know, choose and fair exchange are breached if GMO ingredients are used without the final product being labeled.”3 According to the investigation, the GMO labeling of nearly all the samples containing GMO content is either non-existent or inadequate.

Take soybean, for example: the main ingredient in VV Soybean Milk Powder, it is among the first batch of crops included in the List of Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms Subject to Labeling. However, this list does not specify whether or not GMO ingredients used as raw materials for intensive-processed food should be labeled. For instance, under

1 Order No. 10 of the Ministry of Agriculture of China2 Issued by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China3China Youth Daily. “GMO Labeling still in Cloud after a Decade of Regulation”. http://zqb.cyol.com/html/2013-08/05/nw.D110000zgqnb_20130805_2-05.htm

current regulations, soybean oil must be labeled if made from GMO soybeans, but there is no clear clause in the list to determine labelling of soybean milk powder made from the same raw GMO soybeans. The obscurity of the regulation clause leaves room for enterprises to produce GMO food without informing their customers.

The List of Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms Subject to Labeling has not been reviewed or updated since 2002. At the same time, common foods and ingredients such as soybean lecithin and protein, corn starch and syrup are still not subject to mandatory labeling. The fact that Greenpeace’s investigations spotted GMO content on many common ingredients that are missing from the labeling regulations, reflects that there is a gap between what needs to be regulated and what is actually being regulated. In other words, China’s regulatory system for GMOs suffers from serious defects.

3. The Public’s Fight for the Right to InformationIn stark contrast to the rising awareness on the part of the Chinese public about GMO food, the authorities, namely the Ministry of Agriculture and other relevant agricultural departments, have done very little to improve the public’s access to information on this issue. As a result, more and more consumers are using legal channels to apply for information disclosure. It is worth noting that three requests for administrative litigation involving information disclosure of GMOs have been accepted this year, with intent to sue the Ministry of Agriculture for withholding important information. The three plaintiffs made these demands respectively: to be informed about how the GMO labeling regulatory system is practiced4; to have access to reports on the field experiments that gave Monsanto’s Glyphosate-resisting herbicide, ‘Roundup’, the green light to enter the Chinese market5; and to be informed about the condition of scientific research on GMO crops in China, particularly which frauds have been found and handled. As of April 16 2015, one trial has already reached a verdict; one is ongoing, while another case is awaiting trial. These cases not only mark progress in China’s judicial system reforms, but also demonstrate the public’s increasing demand for their right to know regarding GMO food products.

4. Demands

In order to safeguard the public’s right to know and to choose on the issue of GMO food labeling, Greenpeace calls on the Ministry of Agriculture to pursue the following actions:

a) Products that have been found to contain illegal GMO ingredients must be taken off shelves instantly, while thorough investigations must be carried out to disclose the origins of illegal GMO ingredients.

4People’s Daily Online. “Lawyer Sues MoA for Turning Down Information Disclosure Request about GMO” http://scitech.people.com.cn/n/2015/0215/c1007-26568780.html5http://mp.weixin.qq.com/s?__biz=MzA4NzIzNDAyNQ==&mid=218390260&idx=1&sn=6b715e59fe8bc0bae1336bbc7b6a07d2&3rd=MzA3MDU4NTYzMw==&scene=6#rd

b) The List of Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms Subject to Labeling must be updated and improved: Specifically, it must stipulate that food products must labeled as long as they contain any amount of any form of the organisms registered in the list.

Appendix: Test Results

Date Place Product nameIngredients

(shown in the label)Made in Test result Variety of crop

2015/2/2

4

Hualian, 88 Xianxia

Road West,

Shanghai

Kellogg's

Frostiescorn Thailand Negative No further comments

2015/2/2

4

Hualian, 88 Xianxia

Road West,

Shanghai

Beingmate

Nutritious Rice

Cereal

rice Guangxi, China Negative No further comments

2015/2/2

4

Hualian, 88 Xianxia

Road West,

Shanghai

Yashily

Nutritional Rice

Cereal

rice, soy protein powderGuangdong,

ChinaNegative No further comments

2015/2/2

4

Hualian, 88 Xianxia

Road West,

Shanghai

Jiahui Soybean

Powdersoybean Zhejiang, China Positive

35S promoter;

Roundup Ready™ soy (MON- ø4ø32-6)

2015/2/2

4

Carrefour,

Zhongshan Road,

Shanghai

Rice rice Jiangsu, China Negative No further comments

2015/2/2

4

Carrefour,

Zhongshan Road,

Shanghai

Thai Jasmine

Ricerice

Guangzhou,

ChinaNegative No further comments

2015/2/2

4

Hualian, 88 Xianxia

Road West,

Shanghai

Nestlé Infant

Nutrition Plus

Five Grain

Formula Rice

Powder

corn powder, rice

powder

Heilongjiang,

ChinaNegative No further comments

2015/2/2

5

Wal-Mart,

Chaoyang Road,

Beijing

Biostime Rice

Cereal For Babyrice USA Negative No further comments

2015/2/2

5

Wal-Mart,

Chaoyang Road,

Beijing

VV Soybean

Milk Powder

with Vitamin

soybean Jiangsu, China Positive35S promoter;

Roundup Ready™ soy (MON- ø4ø32-6)

2015/2/2

5

Carrefour,

Guozhan, Beijing

Hospitality

Bunch

O'Cinnamon

Squares

Natural Flavor

Cereal

rice flour, granulesten USA Negative No further comments

2015/2/2

5

Carrefour,

Guozhan, Beijing

Hospitality

Frosted Flakes

Sweetened

Cereal

corn USA Positive

35S promoter;

Herculex™ RW maize (DAS-59122-7);

BT11 (SYN-BT ø11-1) corn;

Roundup Ready 2™ (NK603) corn;

YieldGard™ maize (MON810);

PAT(SYN) gene;

Herculex I™ maize (TC1507)

2015/2/2

5

Carrefour,

Guozhan, Beijing

Doritos Nacho

Cheese

Flavored Chips

corn, corn oil, rapeseed

oilUSA Positive

Herculex™ RW maize (DAS-59122-7);

BT11 (SYN-BT ø11-1) corn;

YieldGard VT™ corn (i.e. MON88017

(MON-88Ø17-3) or MON89034);

Roundup Ready™ maize (GA21 (MON-

ØØØ21-9)); MIR162 maize;

LibertyLink™ maize (T25(ACS-ZMØØ3-

2)); Roundup Ready 2™ (NK603) corn;

YieldGard™ maize (MON810);

modified phosphinothricin resistance

gene (PAT gene) of Streptomyces

viridochromogenes; Herculex I™ maize

(TC1507);

YieldGard RootwormTM (MON863

(MON-ØØ863-5)) corn;

Agrisure RW™ (MIR604 AR-15-GH-

002464-02 (SYN-IR6Ø4-5))corn

2015/2/2

5

Carrefour,

Guozhan, Beijing

Tostitos Hint of

Lime Tortilla

Chips

corn, corn oil, Rapeseed

oilUSA Positive

35S promoter;

Herculex™ RW maize (DAS-59122-7);

BT11 (SYN-BT ø11-1) corn;

Roundup Ready™ maize (GA21(MON-

ØØØ21-9));

YieldGard VT Pro™ (MON89034(MON-

89Ø34-3)) corn;

YieldGard VT

Rootworm™/RR2(MON88017 (MON-

88Ø17-3));

MIR162 maize (OECD Identifier SYN-

IR162-4);

LibertyLink™ maize (T25(ACS-ZMØØ3-2));

Herculex I™ maize (TC1507);

Agrisure RW™ (MIR604 AR-15-GH-

002465-02(SYN-IR6Ø4-5))corn;

Roundup Ready 2™ (NK603) corn;

YieldGard™ maize (MON810);

PAT(SYN) gene;

NOS terminator

2015/2/2

5

Merrymart,

Sanlihe, Beijing

Lan Vang

JiangXi Rice

Vermicelli

rice Jiangxi, China Positive

35S promoter;

BT63 rice;

35S/hpt modification;

NOS terminator;

cry1Ab/Ac-gene;

ubi/cry modification

2015/2/2

5

Hualian,

Shuangjing, Beijing

Pepperidge

Farm Goldfish

Grahams

S'mores

corn syrup, corn starch,

Rapeseed oil,

granulesten

USA Positive

35S promoter;

Roundup Ready™ soy (MON- ø4ø32-6);

NOS terminator;

FMV promoter;

YieldGard VT maize

2015/2/2

5

Hualian,

Shuangjing, Beijing

Nature Valley

Crunchy

Granola Bars

(Apple Crisp)

corn flour, soybean

flour, canola oil,

granulesten

USA Positive

35S promoter;

Roundup Ready2Yield™ (MON-89788-1)

Soybean;

Roundup Ready™ soy (MON- ø4ø32-6);

NOS terminator;

34S FMV promoter

2015/2/2

5

Hualian,

Shuangjing, Beijing

Pepperidge

Farm Lexington

Milk Chocolate

Toffee Almond

Chocolate

Chunk Crispy

Cookies

granulesten, soybean oil,

cornstarch, corn syrupUSA Positive

35S promoter

Roundup Ready2Yield™ (MON-89788-1)

Soybean

Roundup Ready™ soy DNA

NOS terminator

34S FMV promoter

2015/2/2

6

Hualian, Chunxiu

Road, Beijing

Popz

Microwave

Popcorn

(Salted)

corn USA Negative No further comments

2015/2/2

6

Hualian, Chunxiu

Road, Beijing

La Tapatia

Nacho Chipscorn flour, soybean oil USA Positive

35S promoter

Herculex™ RW maize(DAS-59122-7)

BT11 (SYN-BT ø11-1) corn

YieldGard VT Pro™ (MON89034(MON-

89Ø34-3)) corn

YieldGard VT

Rootworm™/RR2(MON88017 (MON-

88Ø17-3)) corn;

Roundup Ready 2™ (NK603) corn

YieldGard™ maize (MON810)

NOS terminator

34S FMV

Herculex I™ maize (TC1507)

PAT(SYN) gene

YieldGard VT™ corn

2015/2/2

6

Hualian, Chunxiu

Road, Beijing

Pringles

Cheddar

Cheese Potato

Crisps

corn flour, soybean oil,

rice flourUSA Positive

35S promoter

Herculex™ RW maize(DAS-59122-7)

BT11 (SYN-BT ø11-1) corn

YieldGard VT Pro™ (MON89034

(MON-89Ø34-3))

Roundup Ready™ maize (GA21

(MON-ØØØ21-9))

YieldGard VT Rootworm™/RR2

(MON88017 (MON-88Ø17-3)) corn

Agrisure Viptera™ maize MIR162

LibertyLink™ maize (T25(ACS-ZMØØ3-2))

Roundup Ready 2™ (NK603) corn

YieldGard™ maize (MON810)

NOS terminator

modified PAT gene

34S FMV promoter

Herculex I™ maize (TC1507)

cry1Ab/Ac gene

YieldGard VT™ corn

Agrisure RW™ (MIR604(SYN-IR6Ø4-

5))corn

PMI/NOS modification

2015/2/2

6

Hualian, Chunxiu

Road, Beijing

Rocky

Mountain

Marshmallows

(Fruity)

corn starch, corn syrup USA Negative No further comments

2015/2/2

4

Parknshop, Tianhe

Entertainment

Hall, Guangzhou

W.L UMC

mixed Flavors

Crispy Corn

(Milk&

Chocolate)

corn, granulesten the Philippines Negative No further comments

2015/2/2

4

Parknshop, Tianhe

Entertainment

Hall, Guangzhou

Nestlé Gold

Infant Nutrition

Plus Oatmeal

and Rice

Powder

corn flour, rice flourHeilongjiang,

ChinaNegative No further comments

2015/2/2

4

Parknshop, Tianhe

Entertainment

Hall, Guangzhou

Nutribén

Instant Cereal

For Children

rice flour, corn starch Spain Negative No further comments

2015/2/2

4

Parknshop, Tianhe

Entertainment

Hall, Guangzhou

Redondo

Luxury Cream

Wafers

(Cappuccino)

rice flour, corn starch,

granulestenIndonesia Negative No further comments

2015/2/2

4

Parknshop, Tianhe

Entertainment

Hall, Guangzhou

Morris Cream

Crackerscorn starch Malaysia Negative No further comments

2015/2/2

4

AEON, Tianhe

District,

Guangzhou

Dai Pai Dong

Instant Soya-

bean Milk Oats

soybean, soybean flourHong Kong,

ChinaPositive

35S promoter;

Roundup Ready™ soy (MON- ø4ø32-6)

2015/2/2

4

AEON, Tianhe

District,

Guangzhou

Matsunaga Soy

Sauce Cookiesoybean Japan Negative No further comments

2015/2/2

4

AEON, Tianhe

District,

Guangzhou

Loacker

Quadratini

Almond Bite

Size Wafer

Cookies

soybean flour Austria Negative No further comments

2015/2/2

4

AEON, Tianhe

District,

Guangzhou

Shoon Fatt

Merceti

Biscites

corn starch Malaysia Negative No further comments

2015/2/2

4

AEON, Tianhe

District,

Guangzhou

Kellogg's Corn

Flakescorn USA Negative No further comments

2015/2/2

4

AEON, Tianhe

District,

Guangzhou

Rafferty's

Garden

Premium Baby

Food

（Pumpkin+

apple+

sweetcorn）

corn Australia Negative No further comments

2015/2/2

4

AEON, Tianhe

District,

Guangzhou

Ca' del

Granbosco

Corn Flakes

corn Italy Negative No further comments

2015/2/2

5

AEON, Tianhe

District,

Guangzhou

Stonehedge

Farms Caramel

Popcorn

corn, corn syrup,

granulestenUSA Negative No further comments

2015/2/2

5

LOTUS MARKET,

Tianhe District,

Guangzhou

Rice rice Jiangxi, China Negative No further comments

2015/2/2

5

RenRenJia, Shabu

Village, GuangzhouRice rice Hubei, China Negative No further comments

2015/3/7Merrymart,

Yizhuang, Beijing

Nestlé Crunchy

Coarse Grain

Cereal

corn flour Tianjin, China Positive

35S promoter;

genetically modified Roundup Ready™

soy (MON- ø4ø32-6)

2015/3/7Merrymart,

Yizhuang, BeijingNestlé Nesvita rice flour, corn flour

Heilongjiang,

ChinaNegative No further comments

2015/3/7Wumart,

Majuqiao, Beijing

Nestlé Crispy

Sharkgranulesten Tianjin, China Negative No further comments

2015/3/7Wumart,

Majuqiao, Beijing

Nestlé Oats &

Honey Cheerioscorn flour, rice flour Tianjin, China Negative No further comments

2015/3/7Wumart,

Majuqiao, Beijing

Nestlé Milk &

Egg Starscorn flour, rice flour Tianjin, China Positive

Roundup Ready2Yield™ (MON-89788-1)

Soybean

Roundup Ready™ soy (MON- ø4ø32-6)

NOS terminator

34S FMV promoter

2015/3/7Wumart,

Majuqiao, BeijingNestlé Cheerios corn flour, rice flour Tianjin, China Negative No further comments

2015/3/7

Hualian,

Ronghuazhong

Road, Beijing

Nestlé Crispy

Shark Triangle

(Chocolate)

granulesten, rice

powder, corn powderTianjin, China Negative No further comments