Tony Blair will be unable to satisfy his passion for genetically modified food this week at the Labour Party Conference as his conference hotel is going GM-free. To add insult to injury, his favourite Islington restaurant, Granita (where he and Gordon Brown famously decided who would lead the Labour Party) is also turning its back on GM food. The news comes only days after the Palace of Westminster caterers announced that they were going GM free. Even Poole, Dorset and Bournemouth Councils, where the Labour Party Conference is taking place, are working closely with suppliers to ensure council menus are free from GM ingredients.
Swallow Highcliff Hotel, whose facilities Blair and his Cabinet will be enjoying this week, is one of Swallow Hotels thirty eight UK chain that are going GM free. The hotel chain has decided to take the precautionary approach to the unknown risks associated with GM food and crops and is removing GM ingredients from food served in all its catering and banqueting services. Granita has become the one hundred and thirtieth restaurant to sign up to the Greenpeace 'Restaurants Avoiding GM Foods' initiative and has pledged to avoid using GM ingredients in its food wherever possible.
Jim Thomas, GM campaigner at Greenpeace, said: "Tony Blair is going to have real trouble trying to find GM food in Bournemouth this week as so many restaurants and hotels have now decided that GM food is not worth the risk. Let's hope that Monsanto or AgrEvo can rush him a hamper to keep him going."
The Greenpeace stand, located in the Purbeck Hall at the Labour Party Conference, will be giving away GM-free organic beer all this week as well as acting as Greenpeace press centre for the duration of the conference.
Further information:
Contact:
Greenpeace press office on: 020 7865 8255
