After the recent release of a study showed that genetically engineered salmon could pose a threat to wild fish, the Campaign for Genetically Engineered (GE)-Free Salmon, announced on Thursday that Target an other large mainstream grocery retailers across the U.S. have committed to not sell GE salmon.
The new policies were released by Greenpeace in its Carting Away the Oceans report.
Stores that will not sell GE salmon include Target, H-E-B, Giant Eagle and Meijer. These stores join 55 other food retailers that made similar commitments earlier this year, including Trader Joe’s Aldi, Whole Foods, Marsh and Hy-Vee.
The total number of companies committed to not sell GE seafood now stands at 59 retailers representing 4,662 grocery stores across the country.
“There’s no room on our plates for genetically engineered seafood. Consumers don’t want it and price-competitive stores across middle America are refusing to sell it,” said Eric Hoffman, food & technology policy campaigner with Friends of the Earth. “We applaud Target and all these retailers for listening to the vast majority of their customers who want sustainable seafood for their families,” Hoffman said. "We need to see more big retailers take this kind of initiative. We're hoping that Safeway, which has become a real leader in seafood sustainability in other ways, and other major grocery stores turn the corner here and pledge to stay away from genetically engineered salmon."
