Big Mac beef GE-free but chicken queried

McDonald's says its beef is free of genetically engineered ingredients, but it cannot give the same assurance about feed given to its chicken.

The restaurant chain said yesterday that all McDonald's cattle were grazed on Waikato and Northland hills and none fed on genetically modified grain.

The assurance followed this week's move by the British arm of McDonald's, which had asked its suppliers to find sources of animal feed that did not contain GE products.

McDonald's New Zealand director of communications Grainne Troute said the company could not give a GE-free assurance about feed used by its poultry suppliers.

"We are actively looking for these sorts of assurances from our suppliers. But because the industry can't confirm that, we can't confirm it either. This is something that the whole poultry industry is facing."

The British McDonald's operated in an environment where feed was regulated, unlike New Zealand.

Feed Manufacturers' Association executive director Bob Diprose said consumers should not have any concerns about eating meat from stock fed GE feed.

"Any animals that are eating genetically modified grain or protein do not produce genetically modified food, whether it be meat or eggs.

"There is absolutely no risk at all, and there has been a lot of scientific work done on that."

Mr Diprose said all the soya bean meal used by association members was imported and the GE component was uncertain.

"All the animals that receive compound feed in New Zealand are possibly receiving some genetically-modified soya bean meal in their feed."

- NZPA

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