EMBASSY COUNTERPUNCHES ON GMO MISINFORMATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 000251 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/ARP DUBAI FOR ATO DIRECTOR DAVID WILLIAMS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/18/2012 TAGS: EAGR EIND ETRD TBIO KU SUBJECT: EMBASSY COUNTERPUNCHES ON GMO MISINFORMATION Classified By: Charge d' Affaires Matthew Tueller for reasons 1.4 (b) a nd (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: On February 5, local Arabic-language daily Al-Rai published a story about genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in foods and quoted an unnamed "U.S. Embassy official" as saying, "if you refrain from consuming these products you will die starving." The article appears to have been prompted by a concurrent anti-GMO campaign by the NGO Greenpeace, which held at least one press conference in Kuwait to denounce GMOs. Post has learned that Greenpeace also approached Kuwaiti cooperative societies, which dominate the Kuwaiti retail food market, and appeared to convince many of them that GMOs are dangerous. To counter the newspaper article and misinformation about GMOs, Post submitted a letter of protest to the editor of Al-Rai, and arranged a series of meetings and press events for a February 12-14 visit of ATO Regional Director David Williams. GOK interlocutors thanked Williams for providing scientific arguments to counter calls for a GMO ban or labeling regime, and urged him to get the U.S. message out to the public. During meetings with GOK officials, a press roundtable, and an interview on a local TV morning talk show, Williams maintained that GMO foods are as safe for Kuwaitis as they are for the millions of Americans who consume them. End Summary. Post Refutes Inaccurate Media Report -------------- ¶2. (C) On February 5, local Arabic-language daily Al-Rai ran a story in which an unnamed "U.S. Embassy official" allegedly said that genetically modified organisms (GMO) are so pervasive in the food supply that "if you refrain from consuming these products you will die starving." Post contacted the newspaper and the individual who was named as quoting the "Embassy official," Dr. Hani Al-Mazeidi of the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research. Dr. Al-Mazeidi quickly distanced himself from the story, claiming that his comments were taken out of context. Post has since submitted a letter to the editor of Al-Rai that refutes both the alleged quote and the misinformation the article presented about GMO foods. The letter states firmly that no USG official would say such a thing about an important topic like GMOs, chastises the newspaper for printing a quote from a second-hand source without verification from the Embassy, and contains additional factual background rebutting the article's statement that the safety of GMO foods is unproven. GOK Officials Comforted By ATO Visit -------------- ¶3. (C) While investigating the source of the misinformation, post also discovered that international NGO Greenpeace had been speaking to Kuwaiti cooperative societies - significant retail players in Kuwait - and had convinced many of them that GMO foods are dangerous. These cooperatives then approached the Kuwait Municipality and asked that the products be labeled or removed from store shelves. In order to forestall an action that the Municipality might take against GMOs in the marketplace, Post invited David Williams, Regional Director of the Agriculture Trade Office in Dubai (ATO-Dubai) to meet with the GOK and local media to counter the claim that GMO foods are dangerous, and to explain the USG position on the issue. On February 13, Williams met with the Chairman of the Kuwait Cooperative Society which accounts for about 60 percent of the food retail sector. Coop members had expressed concern about GMO foods and the Coop society had spoken out against the lack of testing for these products in Kuwait and called for GMO labeling. Williams stressed that GMO foods are safe for consumers and encouraged the Coops to refrain from labeling or other restrictions on GMO products. The Chairman requested additional information concerning Food and Drug Administration testing procedures to better demonstrate that he had raised this issue with the USG and had received the necessary documentation. (Note: ATO subsequently provided the Cooperative Society with background information and regulatory determinations for all GMO products approved for human consumption in the United States. ATO-Dubai will follow up with the Cooperative Society next week to see if there are any lingering concerns. End note.) ¶4. (C) On February 13, Williams also met with officials from the Standards Division of the Public Authority for Industry (PAI),the Food Safety Committee, the Kuwait Municipality, KUWAIT 00000251 002 OF 002 and the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI). All GOK interlocutors expressed their thanks for Williams' visit and were pleased to see quick USG involvement. Mohammed Al-Otaibi, head of the Food Safety Committee, sought clarification about the EU ban on GMOs and stressed his organization's commitment to protecting Kuwaiti consumers. Al-Otaibi urged Williams to get the USG message out in the press and to aggressively counter Greenpeace's claims. Director General of the Kuwait Municipality Ahmed Al-Subaih said he will go before the National Assembly the week of February 19 to address the GMO controversy, and thanked Williams for providing him solid, scientific arguments against instituting a ban or labeling regime. Al-Subaih joined Al-Otaibi in encouraging Williams to make a press statement. KCCI's Deputy Director Rabah Al-Rabah announced that KCCI will fight against a ban or labeling, and offered to host a seminar for the press, Kuwaiti cooperatives, food safety experts, the PAI, and the Kuwait Municipality on the scientific arguments in favor of GMOs. USDA Rep Engages Local Media -------------- ¶5. (U) On February 13, Williams participated in a 35-minute press roundtable held at the Embassy and attended by nine reporters from Kuwait's six Arabic- and three English-language daily newspapers. During the session Williams highlighted the scientific evidence attesting to the safety of GMOs. He emphasized that GMO foods sold in Kuwait are the same foods sold and consumed in the U.S. and that all are approved at various stages by the EPA, USDA, and FDA. Williams also provided clarification on the EU ban and explained the subsequent WTO ruling against it. On February 14, Williams appeared on the popular Kuwait TV talk show "Good Morning Kuwait," where he addressed the same issues to a general audience. ¶6. (C) COMMENT: Post will continue to monitor this issue closely and will work with the KCCI and ATO-Dubai on a proposed seminar to counter misperceptions about GMOs. Post will also engage with the Municipality and the PAI to resist any steps toward a labeling regime. However, the GOK is aware that Saudi Arabia requires GMO labels on certain products, and it is likely that Kuwait will point to the Saudi system as a precedent for labeling GMO foods. ¶7. (U) ATO Director Williams contributed to this cable but was not able to clear it before his departure. ********************************************* * For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s Visit Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ ********************************************* * TUELLER