Adam Smith Institute

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Another attempt to stifle choice

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another-attempt-to-stifle-choice

Shelves"The Silent Invasion" is the latest offering from The Soil Association (SA) (the cover of which has a not to subtle jab at the US). In this latest report of an investigation they carried out they found that most of the “non-organic” food sold in the UK came from animals that has been fed on GM feed. The SA wants all food produced from these animals to be labelled as such, and advises the public the best way to avoid this is to (surprise, surprise) buy organic.

Plainly the SA is attempting to give its members another advantage over other producers by scaring the public into thinking that the “non-organic” GM fed food it is consuming is somehow not safe. Is it any wonder they are chasing after food produced using GM feed, could it be that this food is somehow cheaper than the organic alternative?

The European wide ban on GM food being available to the consumer has meant that there is a large stock of material that can’t be used to feed humans but is fit for animals to consume. Rather than allowing this to go to waste it is fed to animals; the consumer benefits from this with cheap food that is safe to consume and choice in the marketplace. How best does the SA seek to narrow this competition, by trying to whip up public fears and hope that there will be legislation passed based on their own recommendations.

The Soil Association probably wishes to see the remove of all competition to organic food in this country and desires that all food produced is done so to its own exacting and expensive standards. There is no thought to the consumer; the Soil Association shows nothing more than the selfish pursuit of profits for its members through protectionism and the heavy hand of legislated regulation.

Adam Smith was correct when he said: "People of the same trade seldom meet together, even for merriment and diversion, but the conversation ends in a conspiracy against the public, or in some contrivance to raise prices."