Greenpeace says a decision by the United Kingdom's Unilever, world's largest food manufacturer, that it no longer will use genetically modified ingredients in any of its food products, could mean lost markets for U.S. soy products.  More than one third of the soybeans grown in the United States are genetically engineered, Greenpeace notes.

"Monsanto and other biotech companies have been selling American farmers an unwanted product (genetically modified products)," said Benny Haerlin, Greenpeace International coordinator of the campaign against such products.  "Most Brazilian soybean growers are already GM (genetically modified) free, so they will have an advantage over U.S. farmers in the global export market."

Charles Margulis, Greenpeace issues specialist, said, "Our farmers and families should not be the guinea pigs in this global experiment.  The rest of the world has rejected these contaminated foods, and Americans want the same freedom to choose pure food."

He said seven major supermarkets in six European countries have announced an effort to keep genetically modified supplies from their stores.  Major food companies in Japan also have decided to not market soy products from genetically modified crops.