SUGGESTIONS that food produced using approved genetically modified technology may be unsafe are untrue and irresponsible, a producers group says.
The comments come as Greenpeace launches the True Food Guide, a guide to "GE-free shopping."Greenpeace says the guide is necessary in the "absence of Australian labelling laws for GE foods."
But Producersforum, a group of grain, oilseed, cotton and beef producers, says it is distrurbing for Greenpeace and some chefs to suggest that Australian food is unsafe.
NSW farmer Wayne McKay, a GM-canola grower, said "farmers are vitally concerned about the quality of the products they produce.”
"Thus they are enthusiastic supporters of GM technology knowing that approved GM products are the most tested on the market and have the best safety profile," he said.
Mr McKay said as well as producing high quality food for both domestic and export markets, the industry had stewardship programs and handling systems in place to ensure it could deliver GM or non-GM products.
"Consumers and chefs are free to exercise their right to choose and promote the foods they use," he said.
"We are all also entitled to be confident in the safety of the food we eat and not be subjected to scare-mongering when the evidence says the food is safe."
