KORONADAL CITY-Food giant Wyeth Philippines Inc., has eliminated the use of genetically modified organisms in its products, according the environmental activist Greepeace.

"Environmental group Greenpeace announced that it is officially moving food giant Wyeth into the green list of the group's True food Consumer Guide," said a Greenpeace Southeast Asia Philippines statement posted in the Internet early this week.

Based on Greenpeace's "The Food Consumer Guide," products included on it green list are those whose manufacturers guarantee either via public statements or direct communication with Greenpeace that they to not use genetically altered ingredients of additives in their products.

The modification of Wyeth into the green list followed a declaration from Wyeth Philippines Inc., that it has eliminated the use of genetically engineered (GE) ingredients in Nursoy, the last product of the firm to have contained GE, said the statement.

In a later to Greenpeace, Wyeth reiterated its commitment value of their infant formulas.

"This is like a breath of fresh air. Now mothers with lactose-intolerant babies can breath more easily, knowing that the product they are feeding their babies are free of genetic contamination," said Beau Baconguis, genetic engineering campaigner of Greenpeace Southeast Asia.

Greenpeace lauded Wyeth for the move and challenged other food manufacturers, especially of baby food, not to further delay the process of eliminating GE ingredients in their products. The group also called on the Philippine government to pass long-overdue legislation on the mandatory labeling of all GE products.

"Wyeth has decided not to use genetically modified ingredients in its nutritional product in the interest of meeting consumers' requests," said Dr. Nerissa Calimon, medical director of Wyeth.

Recently in Hong Kong/China, Wyeth also announced that it no longer uses GE ingredients in its baby products, which is an "affirmation that non-GMO is indeed that trend in food production," according to the statement.

In its report "Blind Feeding Filipino Babies with GMOs," Greenpeace said Wyeth's Nursoy was one of the products found to contain GE ingredients.

Others that tested positive declared their policy on GMOs remain on the Greenpeace red list. These include Nestle Cerelac, Farina Hot Quick Cereal, Kellog's Chocos Chex and Isomil Soy Infant Formula.

Products on the Greenpeace red list are those whose food manufacturers admit using and refuse to phase out GE ingredients or additives or have failed to reply to Greenpeace, according to Greenpeace's "The Food Consumer Guide."

The Royal Societies of London and Canada have warned about the risks of GMOs to health, especially identifying infants and babies as the most vulnerable to allergies that may by brought about by GE food, said Greenpeace.