Granada Food Services, whose customers include Monsanto's High Wycombe office near London, recently told clients it would not supply food containing genetically modified soya or maize due to customer concerns.
Genetic engineering involves splicing a single gene from one organism to another.
Genetically modified products, including Monsanto's genetically engineered corn, have recently met with safety concerns in parts of Europe and Asia. In October, the European Union adopted new marketing rules requiring companies to label food as genetically modified if more than one percent of the product contains genetically modified organisms. Granada's statement said the ban also brings the company into compliance with the new regulations. Monsanto played down the staff cafeteria policy, and denied it was an embarrassment to have a genetically modified food ban at the head office of a company manufacturing genetically modified crop seeds. At our Cambridge restaurant the notice says some products may contain genetically modified organisms because our staff are happy to eat foods sprayed with fewer chemicals,'' said Tony Combes, Monsanto's director of corporate affairs.