Prince Charles Urges Total Boycott of Genetically-Manipulated Foods
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Excepted from The Independent - London 29th Oct 98
Following his public assault in June on genetically-modified
food, which he said he would neither eat nor give to his family or guests,
Prince Charles called on British consumers to take action themselves.
"We have to recognise that genetically-modified food is already coming
into this country in large quantities from elsewhere. The only effective
restraint will be strong and sustained pressure from consumers demanding
choice in the matter," he said, presenting the 1998 Organic Food Awards
at London's Savoy Hotel. "Many will be asking, as I continue to do,
whether we need genetically modified food at all." The Prince said he
did not think it was right to "tamper with the building blocks of life".
"I also regard the technology as unproven, with the potential to cause
serious and possibly irreversible damage to wildlife and the environment.
And I know from a very large number of letters that I am not alone in
not wanting to eat any genetically modified produce," he said.
As Britain's best-known organic farmer on his Highgrove Estate in
Gloucestershire, the Prince set his seal of approval yesterday on the
current boom in organic food, demand for which has soared in the last
year. Big supermarkets now stock more than 300 lines.