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Greenpeace Check: How do German major retailers stand on genetic engineering?

01/15/2026 - Greenpeace has thoroughly questioned Aldi (North and South), Rewe, Lidl, Kaufland, Penny, Edeka and Netto about their approach to old and new genetic engineering – and found significant differences.

First, the good news: The issues of GMO-free products and new genetic engineering are on the agenda of all eight chains surveyed – albeit with varying degrees of urgency and emphasis. According to the Greenpeace supermarket check, Aldi Nord and Aldi Süd are the only ones that have made a clear commitment not to offer products made using new genetic engineering.

In addition to Aldi, Rewe and Penny also say that products from new genetic engineering should be strictly regulated and labelled. Lidl, Kaufland, Edeka and Netto, on the other hand, are still undecided, citing the "complexity" of the issue or referring to the contradictory position paper on new genetic engineering published by the German Food Retail Association (BVLH) in 2023.

Greenpeace sees this as a "division" in the food retail sector, which it says is a "dangerous signal". While Aldi, Rewe and Penny are clearly in favour of mandatory labelling, freedom of choice and the precautionary principle, the Schwarz Group with Lidl and Kaufland, as well as Edeka and Netto, are "shirking their responsibility towards consumers and the environment".

However, according to Greenpeace, if they "fail to take a clear stand against unlabelled new genetic engineering and at the same time erode their GMO-free product ranges, consumers' freedom of choice is in danger of gradually disappearing". In order to ensure that agriculture and food retail remain GMO-free, retailers must now demonstrate a united front.

Greenpeace has also thoroughly examined the current practices of the markets with regard to GMO-free production and "Ohne Gentechnik" (Non-GMO) labelling. In the case of eggs, poultry meat and regular milk, almost all of them achieve an impressive 100 percent for their own brands, and the proportion is also very high for processed dairy products. These encouraging figures have also been announced by food retailers for 2026.

Only at Edeka the proportion of poultry meat from GMO-free feed was just 25 percent, with only 6 percent bearing the "Ohne Gentechnik“ label. An industry insider explains Edeka's deviating figures to VLOG with the high proportion of poultry meat from the service counter, where it is more difficult to advertise "Ohne Gentechnik" and GMO-free production is apparently not required. He assumes that approximately 80 percent of Edeka's own brands in the self-service fresh poultry sector are labelled "Ohne Gentechnik".

Overall, Greenpeace considers "Ohne Gentechnik" to be largely established for eggs, poultry meat and dairy products – in stark contrast to pork, where the organisation sees a "need for action". In that segment, the "Ohne Gentechnik" share is usually only two to three percent.

The beef segment is currently experiencing the greatest momentum. There, the proportion of "Ohne Gentechnik" products has expanded significantly in recent years. This is directly related to the expansion of meat from higher tiers of animal husbandry. Lidl, Rewe and Penny are also demanding "Ohne Gentechnik" feeding with the switch to husbandry tier 3. At Lidl, 88 percent of beef is already labelled "Ohne Gentechnik". At Rewe, the share is set to increase from 31 percent in 2025 to 88 percent in 2026. At Penny, the share is set to rise from the current 20 percent to 100 percent this year. Rewe and Penny also use the VLOG's standardised "Ohne Gentechnik" seal for this claim. This ensures strict controls and a high level of safety.

Aldi, Rewe, Lidl, Kaufland, Penny, Edeka and Netto were also asked about "husbandry tier 3 and GMO-free feed’, a topic on which VLOG had already conducted its own investigation last summer – However, none of them have responded so far. Greenpeace insists that GMO-free feed must remain mandatory for husbandry tier 3 and above, as originally planned. In the meantime, however, this requirement has been eroded. According to Greenpeace, this issue is currently "undergoing technical evaluation" by the BVLH.

Greenpeace: GM supermarket check "GM-free food in supermarkets at risk" (German)

Greenpeace: Aldi and Rewe call for strict regulations, Edeka and Lidl remain vague (German)

epd: Associations warn of "genetic engineering through the back door" (German)

Husbandry tier 3 for pork: Two thirds still GMO-free

Husbandry tier and "Ohne Gentechnik": Please show both labels!