NESTLE FRANCE TELLS GREENPEACE "OUR PRODUCTS ARE NOW GMO-FREE"; GREENPEACE
CALLS ON NESTLE TO PROTECT U.S. CONSUMERS TOO.

January 7, 2000

Greenpeace Press Release

WASHINGTON -- Greenpeace France received a letter from
Nestle yesterday stating that the company has stopped using ingredients from
genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in its products sold in that country.
While Nestle offices across Europe have already announced they would stop
using GMOs, in France, Nestle has several products on the Greenpeace list of
foods made with modified corn, soy or other ingredients. Nestle states in
its letter: "We can inform you that we produce the products on your 'black list'
with only conventional ingredients as of now."

"Nestle may make the very best chocolate, but it doesn't make the very best
commitment it can to U.S. consumers," said Greenpeace Genetic Engineering
Specialist, Charles Margulis. "While Europeans can rest assured that Nestle
products are GMO-free, the company refuses to provide the same protection to
Americans." In recent letters to U.S. consumers, Nestle USA unapologetically
admits that "Nestle USA does use some genetically grown ingredients in some
products."

Nestle, the world's largest food company, says it leaves the decision on GMO
foods to its national offices. So far its offices in Austria, Germany,
Spain, Italy and the UK have pledged to produce only GMO-free foods. Since Nestle USA
acknowledges that some of its products use genetically-altered ingredients,
Greenpeace demands to know why the company is feeding our children candy
bars rejected by parents in these countries.

In Europe, there has been a virtual stampede of food companies away from
genetically-altered foods. Major processors and retailers who sell thousands
of products that contain soy, corn, canola, or other ingredients likely
produced from GMO crops, have stated that they can assure customers that their foods
are produced without these ingredients.

Earlier this week, Greenpeace welcomed a near-unanimous decision by the
Legislative Council of Hong Kong calling on the Chinese government to
implement mandatory labeling of GMO food. Recently, Greenpeace tested Nestle
products sold in Hong Kong and found that they are made with GMOs.
In addition to Nestle, major food companies such as Kraft, McDonalds,
Quaker, M&M Bars, Dannon, Pillsbury, Burger King and others have stated they
will not use GMO ingredients in their products sold in Europe. Kellogg's
tells consumers in Britain that its cereals sold there are made with non-GMO
corn from Argentina, yet the company states in letters to Americans that it
continues to use genetically-altered corn here.