At its meeting on 1 August 1998, the Council (Board of Trustees) of The Vegetarian Society agreed to introduce the following policy regarding the genetic modification of foodstuffs:
“Genetically Modified products or products containing Genetically Modified ingredients are not acceptable to the Vegetarian Society because the Society believes it is impossible to guarantee that such products are completely in accordance with the Society’s vegetarian principles.”
The policy statement was subsequently updated on the 21 August 1999 to read:
“The Vegetarian Society considers that GM ingredients do not comply with the Seedling Symbol criteria.
The Society aims for all Seedling Symbol approved products to be free from GM ingredients and their derivatives as from 1 August 1999. Any company wishing to use the Society’s Seedling Symbol is contractually obliged to meet the approval criteria that ensures products are free from meat, fish, fowl, shellfish, battery eggs, products or ingredients tested on animals since 1986, or genetically modified ingredients.
The Society is concerned that the introduction of GM foods could pose a potential risk to the environment, animal welfare and human health.
The majority of cheese suitable for vegetarians is made using an enzyme developed with the use of biotechnology. This enzyme is produced using proven technology under controlled conditions with no environmental, animal welfare or human health implications. This enzyme is used in replacement of traditional rennet, which is taken from the stomach of a calf. The Vegetarian Society continues to endorse vegetarian cheese as a suitable replacement for cheese made with traditional animal rennet.”
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