A heated on-air clash erupted on SKAI radio between PASOK MEP Nikolaos Ferentinos and journalist Aris Portosalte over genetically modified (GM) foods.
Clash over EU GM food labelling rules
Ferentinos accused the Greek government of abandoning its long-standing cautious stance on GM foods, citing a recent European Parliament vote that effectively removes mandatory labelling for products containing up to 20 genetic modifications. He claimed this marked the first time Greece broke ranks within the EU Council of Ministers — shifting from reservations to active support for the new regulation.
‘We PASOK MEPs voted against it,’ Ferentinos stressed. ‘But because of those who backed this regulation, supermarket shelves will no longer indicate whether a product is genetically modified — even if it contains up to 20 genetic alterations.’
He went further, arguing that the Greek government not only supported the measure in the EU Council of Ministers but actively championed it — thereby stripping consumers of their right to choose whether or not to consume GM foods.
‘With PASOK you know what you eat, with ND you don’t’
During the exchange, Portosalte asked Ferentinos about the position taken by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s political bloc. Ferentinos responded sharply: ‘Mr. Portosalte’s ideological allies — the far-right and mainstream right — voted in favour of the GM amendment.’
He then delivered a pointed line: ‘So with PASOK, you know what you eat; with New Democracy, you don’t.’
The remark triggered an immediate retort from Portosalte, who quipped sarcastically: ‘Bravo, Ferentinos — certified populist.’
Concerns over corporate control
Ferentinos doubled down, adding that the patents for GM foods are now concentrated in the hands of just two multinational corporations — raising concerns about monopolisation across the agricultural supply chain, from seeds to food production and distribution.