Retailer Statements on GM Salmon, Canada
The Canadian Biotechnology Action Network solicited public statements from Canada’s largest grocery chains, to clarify store policy on the sale of genetically modified (GM or genetically engineered) salmon for consumers. Unless otherwise specified, the statements refer to seafood counters in grocery stores.
- Click here to find out if one of these companies owns your local grocery store.
- In 2020, CBAN and Vigilance OGM surveyed the top five grocery chains in Canada on GMOs, See our report: GMOs in your grocery store: Ranking company transparency
- In 2017, the top food retailers across Canada and the U.S. made public statements that they have no plans to sell the genetically engineered salmon. Press Release: Major Grocery Retailers Across North America Reject Genetically Engineered Fish
Please consider writing to the head office of your grocery store to ask them for updated statements – to find out if they are selling or plan to sell GM salmon. Please send us their response. The below statements will need to be constantly checked and updated. Thank you for your action.
Costco
“Costco does not intend to sell genetically modified salmon.” (Accessed February 2020)
Federated Co-operatives Ltd
“We do not purchase, nor do we offer for sale any genetically modified salmon products, with no future plans.” (September 2017)
Picture taken at the seafood counter at a Farm Boy store in Ottawa, June 2018
IGA (Owned by Sobeys)
Loblaw
“Across our fresh departments, including seafood and produce, we have not knowingly sourced genetically modified salmon, potatoes, apples or sweet corn in the past, and currently have no plans to source them in the future.” (2020)
Longo’s
“Longos doesn’t carry any GMO Fish (including Salmon). We have no future plans to carry any in the future.” (October 2019)
“Our current salmon supplier does not include genetically modified salmon in our assortment, please see the attached letter from our supplier.” (September 2017)
Metro
Ontario/Quebec grocery chain Metro has pledged to keep GM salmon out of stores until at least 2026. They are requesting letters of confirmation from suppliers. See the Corporate Responsibility Plan, 2022-2026.
Overwaitea Food Groups
“We have no plans to carry the genetically engineered salmon in our stores.” (August 2017)
Sobeys
“At this time, Sobeys Inc. has no intention of selling GM salmon in our stores. We are confident that our customer needs are being met with our existing selection of salmon.” (November 2017)
Walmart Canada
“GM salmon is not currently available in our stores; we have never offered GM salmon to our customers. At this time, Walmart has no plans to sell GM salmon.” (September 2017)
