"As a precautionary measure, we are asking Novartis to voluntarily pull out its stocks suspected of being contaminated with GMO. They did an investigation and we presume that they know the batches containing GMOs," Hernandez told Reuters by phone.

But Novartis said in a statement it saw no need to pull out its products.

"While we have confirmed that small amounts of genetically enhanced soy have been used in the Gerber cereal products, Novartis Consumer Health sees no need to pull out our products from the shelves as we maintain that the safety of our products are beyond reproach," it said.

It said that all its products in the Philippines passed the stringent rules of the Philippines' Bureau of Food and Drugs, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the World Health Organisation.

"The reason behind the decision of Novartis to seek alternative sources of ingredients is simply a response to consumer preferences," Novartis said.

BABY FOOD MANUFACTURED IN INDONESIA

Greenpeace activists had lined up dozens of plastic baby dolls outside Novartis headquarters in Basel in August to draw attention to allegations that genetically modified products had made their way into baby food made by Novartis unit Gerber.

The environmental lobby group said in Switzerland in August that a Hong Kong laboratory, DNA Chips, had found high concentration of the controversial ingredient in three products sold in the Philippines by Novartis' U.S. unit Gerber.

Greenpeace said the three products - Gerber Green Mongo, Gerber Cream of Brown Rice and Gerber Mixed Fruit - were manufactured by Novartis/Gerber in Indonesia.

Companies have been developing genetically modified crops to fight pests and plant diseases, but some consumers have baulked at eating them for fear they could lead to health problems.

"We welcome the company's quick and responsible action to remove GMOs from their products sold in the Philippines," Greenpeace genetic engineering campaigner Beau Baconguis said in a statement.

"Novartis/Gerber must now ensure that similar episodes of contamination are not repeated in the future and in other places, particularly in the developing world. The company must observe its global commitment to go GMO-free in rich or poor countries alike."

Greenpeace has asked the Philippine government to immediately implement mandatory labelling on food products containing genetically modified organisms, saying scientific understanding on the impact of genetic engineering on the environment and health is limited.