What genetically modified foods are sold in NZ?
Some processed foods may contain genetically modified ingredients if the ingredients are imported. But no genetically modified crops are grown commercially in New Zealand. No fresh fruit, vegetables or meat sold in New Zealand is genetically modified.
Check the label
There are labelling standards for genetically modified food in New Zealand. Usually, information about genetic modification will be in the ingredients list on the label.
What will be labelled?
Any food, food ingredient, food additive, food processing aid or flavouring which contains genetically modified DNA or protein must be noted on the label. If a food or ingredient has altered characteristics, this must also be on the label. For example, if an oil was made from a genetically modified plant so it boiled at a higher temperature, it would need to be labelled even if no genetically modified material was present in the oil.
A genetically modified ingredient does not have to be on the label when:
- a flavouring in the food is less than 0.1 percent of that food
- an ingredient unintentionally contains genetically modified material less than 1 percent of that ingredient.
Food can be processed to remove all DNA or protein that has been changed by genetic modification. An example is canola oil which may come from a genetically modified canola plant. The oil from this genetically modified canola plant is the same as oil that comes from a canola plant that has not been modified. When food has been processed to remove all genetically modified DNA or protein and does not have altered characteristics, the food does not need to be labelled as GM.
For more detail on the laws governing labelling of GM food in New Zealand see How GM food is labelled.
Fresh meat, fruit and vegetables
Did you know?
No fresh vegetables, fruit or meat sold in New Zealand are genetically modified.
Fresh meat, fruit and vegetables currently sold in New Zealand are not genetically modified. The Government has decided no one will be able to apply to grow genetically modified fruit, vegetables or animals for meat in New Zealand until after the end of October 2003.
Processed food
Did you know?
Some processed foods sold in New Zealand may have imported genetically modified ingredients, eg, soya flour. Foods containing genetically modified DNA or protein, or having altered characteristics, must be labelled ‘genetically modified’.
Some genetically modified foods can be sold in New Zealand as processed foods. You can check the label for genetically modified ingredients in canned, packaged or processed food. The main genetically modified crops grown overseas are soybeans, canola, corn and cotton. Some of the food ingredients that could be produced from these crops are soybean paste, canola oil and cottonseed oil.
Foods derived from these genetically modified crops can be sold here only if they’ve been assessed for safety by Food Standards Australia New Zealand and approved by the Australia New Zealand Foods Standards Council (ANZFSC).
Safety assessment
No genetically modified food will be allowed on to supermarket shelves unless it has gone through Food Standards Australia New Zealand’s safety assessment for gm foods.
Food in restaurants and takeaways
There are no labelling requirements for foods prepared in restaurants, takeaways and supermarkets. If you want to know whether foods sold in these places are genetically modified you can ask.
Last updated: 17 September 2007
