Genetic engineering is the term for the direct manipulation of the genetic make-up of plants, animals, and humans. As a subsection of biotechnology, it is based on molecular biology and genetics. An organism is considered as genetically modified if its genetic material has been changed using genetic engineering methods. This means that it has been altered in ways that would have been not possible under natural conditions, such as crossbreeding or natural recombination. For example, by modifying genes in plants or by transferring so-called transgenes from one kind of organism to another.

Genetic engineering procedures are divided into three main areas of application: agriculture, medicine, and environmental protection technology and microbiology. Genetic procedures in agrarian or agricultural areas are also termed as “green genetic engineering”.

Since April 2004, the European Union requires clear labelling for genetically modified human and animal foods. This includes confectioneries that contain more than 0.9% genetically modified ingredients. This allows consumers to freely decide whether or not they want to buy products containing genetically modified (GM) organisms. However, this labelling obligation does not include animal products such as milk, meat, and eggs, where the animals have been fed GM feed. This is because animal feed, whether natural or modified, is broken down in the animal’s digestive tract. It cannot, therefore, lead to a genetic change in the produce itself.

The only genetically modified foods that are approved are those that do not cause, “unfavourable effects on the health of humans, animals, or the environment,” and which, “do not mislead consumers.” This has been the case since the beginning. This approval process is overseen by the European Authority for Food Safety (EAFS). It makes it decisions based on safety evaluations that have been made over many years. Genetically modified foods have become a fixed feature in our everyday lives. Since the BSE crisis, meat and bone animal feed has been largely replaced by GM soya from the USA. In Germany alone, this is to the tune of up to 60% to 70%.

The advantage is that raising crops has become more economical, productive, and environmentally friendly. The latter, because GM crops possess greater resistance to pests and, therefore, require less pesticides. Critics fear that interfering in the genetic make-up of domestic animals and cultivated plants could endanger the health of humans. For example, the use of genetic markers might cause a resistance to antibiotics or lead to allergies caused by foreign genes. They also argue that pests might become resistant to GM crops and that GM crops kill useful insects.

The largest producer of genetically modified crops is the USA, with 47.6 million hectares out a worldwide total of 81 million hectares (2004). The second largest producer is Argentina, with 16.2 million hectares of cultivated land. Those GM crops that are mainly cultivated are soya (55%), cotton (22%), rape (16%), and corn (11%). Even in Germany, over 500 hectares of land are used to cultivate GM corn.

Many companies are using more and more genetically modified ingredients in chocolate production. Emulsifying agents usually come from soya lecithin. Soya is one of the most frequently genetically modified plants. Maize, in the form of cornflakes, for example, is also often genetically modified. Flavourings in chocolate, as well as sugar substitutes in diet chocolates, are likewise often produced with the help of genetically modified microorganisms. Cows, whose milk is used in the production of chocolate, could have been fed with GM animal feeds.

We at RITTER SPORT have a clear approach towards this in the production of our chocolate:
Our quality standards demand that we try – as far as is possible – not to use genetically modified ingredients. We work with suppliers who supply us solely GM free commodities. These are regularly checked by us by means of on-site audits and the strict inspection of incoming goods.

Our lecithin comes, for example, from non-genetically modified soya beans. Moreover, we only use 100% pure cocoa butter and no cocoa butter equivalent fats. This means that no components of GM plants can end up in our chocolate. However, we are dependent on the availability of GM free ingredients.

This means that it is, unfortunately, not always possible to only use them. For example, despite searching far and wide, we have not yet succeeded in securing a supplier for milk powder that can guarantee us that its animals are only fed GM free animal feed. Also, despite strict inspection of incoming commodities, it is not possible to completely rule out unintentional impurities, such as through pollination on fields.

We are, however, working towards offering our customers a chocolate that we can say is produced according to RITTER SPORT’S excellent quality standards and without the use of GM ingredients. We promise you that we are keeping on it.