Today, Auckland GE Action targeted Inghams customer KFC in protest against their use of chicken fed on genetically engineered soy. The Australian owned chicken producer, Inghams, is the number one source for GE contamination of food in both countries.

The group of more than 20 protested outside KFC Ponsonby at lunch time to draw customers' attention to the hidden contamination of KFC chicken. This highlights the fact that, under NZ labelling laws, chicken that have been raised on GE feed do not have to be labelled, denying consumers the right to choose.

Support was received from passing motorists and pedestrians alike. However, the branch manager refused to accept a letter requesting that the protesters' concerns be passed on to the KFC head office.

The protest was a part of a weekend of action against Inghams and its customers throughout Australasia by grassroots GE-Free activists. Actions are occurring throughout Australasia targeting KFC outlets and Inghams offices.

“We will continue to target KFC until they can guarantee their customers that KFC's chickens have been raised only on non-GE feed”, one protester said. The new group is planning regular ongoing actions against KFC.

ENDS

Background information on Inghams and KFC

Until May 2004, Inghams have been importing soy for their chicken feed that is up to 85% genetically engineered. Due to pressure against Inghams customer Mc Donalds, Ingham Enterprise NZ decided in May to source their next shipments of chicken feed until the end of 2004 from non-GE sources. Inghams have failed to make a long term commitment to using non-GE feed. In Australia, Inghams are currently still using GE- contaminated soy.

It is not difficult for Inghams to go GE-Free – conventional non-GE soy is readily available on the international market and in 2001 Tegel New Zealand stopped using GE feed completely.

Restaurant Brands, who own KFC as well as Pizza Hut and Starbucks, and are one of Inghams largest customers and have only recently switched from Tegel (who went GE-Free in 2001) to Inghams.

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