Press release

For immediate release
22/02/01

Anti GM protestors blockade Sainsbury's depots

This morning at approximately 10:30am protestors have begun blockading
Sainsbury's regional distribution centres [1] around the country, preventing
them from supplying Sainsbury's supermarkets with GM-fed animal produce. [2]

The protestors are targeting Sainsbury's because of their failure to follow
recent moves by other supermarket chains [3] in announcing a date by which all 
own-brand meat, dairy, egg, and fish products will be from animals raised on a
GM free diet [4].

The protestors have used various means of blockading, including climbing on
top of lorries, and using bicycle locks to secure themselves to lorries and gates,
with banners and costumes to highlight the issue to Sainsbury's workers.

Notes to Editors:

1. So far, reports of at least four seperate actions have been received. For
progress reports and footage of the blockades:

Tel: 0207 6900626 GEN for updates 
Via GEN (blockade at Elstree Way, Borehamwood WD6 1SN)

Tel: 07796 430 141 (blockade at Basingstoke depot)

Tel: 07710 482201 (blockade in Midlands area depot)

2. Regional Distribution Centres (RDC's) operate on a "just in time" basis to
local stores.

3. 75% of the worlds GM crop acreage is grown to feed animals that then enters
the food chain via meat, dairy, egg and fish products. Although most
supermarkets have removed GE as direct ingredients, little attention has been
paid to animal feed entering the food chain via eggs, dairy, meat and fish.
67% of people in a recent independent poll said that they were opposed to farm
animals being fed GM crops.

4. Iceland was the first UK supermarket to outlaw GE animal feed in its 
ownbrand products. ASDA, Tesco, and Marks and Spencers have recently given 
dates by which own brand produce will be GM free. Sainsbury's has yet to do
so.

5. GM-fed animal produce is currently not labelled as such.

6. This year for the first time since the introduction of GE, acreage looks
set to decrease compared to last year. After the Starlink scandal in USA, Bosnia
recently refused 40,000 tonnes of GE maize which was sent as aid by the USA.
Sainbury's is a major UK supermarket chain.

Video footage from one of the actions is available via Zoe Broughton 07779
268832 Stills pictures are available from a freelance photographer - contact 
GEN 020 7690 0626

For a detailed briefing on the issue of GE animal feed

http://www.gm-info.org.uk/gm-info/briefings/intro.html