Nestle retreats selectively

OXFORD - Another global food producer is taking steps to remove genetically modified ingredients from its products on the grounds of consumer demands. Unlike Novartis' Gerber baby foods decision (see BioCentury Aug. 2), Nestle SA says it is not being bullied into removing GM foods by environmental groups like Greenpeace, but is reacting to consumer demand on a country-by-country basis.

Nestle (Vevey, Switzerland) plans to phase out sales of products containing GM ingredients in Germany and Switzerland, a process it had already started in the U.K. However, Nestle still will supply GM products to France and the Netherlands, countries it feels are not opposed to the technology...