April 22, 2009
Many dairy brands in Germany use milk from GM soy fed cows
Several quality brands of dairy products in Germany used milk from cows that have been fed GM soy, according to environmental organisation Greenpeace.
Analysis of feed samples for suppliers of Weihenstephan, Barenbrand and Allgauland have showed they used GM soy from South America to feed their cows, said Greenpeace.
In response, Allgauland said the use of GM feed is allowed and is nothing spectacular.
But Greenpeace spokesman Alexander Hissting, said the allegations against milk producers are just the tip of the iceberg as feeding chickens and pigs GM soy is more the rule than the exception.
About 90 percent of imported soy used for animal feed was GM, said Bernhard Krusken of the German Animal Feed Association.
The wide use of GM soy are attributed to its lower prices and decreasing availability of non-GM soy on the world market.
Large buyers such as China prefer the cheaper GM soy, one of the reasons why producers from the US or South America focus on the cultivation of GM soy.
