New iPhone app helps Chinese consumers avoid GE foods

Greenpeace China has developed a free iPhone app that aims to raise awareness of GE foods — including rice — and give Chinese consumers an easy way to check whether the products they are buying are GE-free. Entitled "Food Lovers", the free app also features five celebrity food writers discussing their favourite rice dishes.

Modeled after ShopNoGMO, a similar app for US customers released by the Institute for Responsible Technology earlier this year, the reference data used by "Food Lovers" comes from Greenpeace China's 2010 GE-Free Food Guide (link in Chinese). However, the app's title and the inclusion of additional "human interest" content is obviously aimed at increasing its appeal to the general public.

The app is available for free download from the iTunes App Store. One user named "Fansile", awarding it a five-star rating, made this comment:

Finally the environmental organization is talking something related to my Chinese stomach. And it's not only a Green decoration for my iPod touch, but also a practical tool for me to decide what to buy and what to eat. Better than the other green apps. Cheer!