Folks: this is forwarded from another source - pls note:
A scientist in the states has initiated a letter writing campaign asking
scientists to insist
frito-lay back down on its decision not to use GE corn in its products (copy
of his suggested
letter below)
Laurel Hopwood, head of the Sierra Club biotech task force has initiated a
counter campaigne
urging Frito-lay to stick with its decision not to use GE corn in its
products. If you would like to contribute your thoughts, instructions are
below:
Laurel Hopwood,laurel.hopwood@sierraclub.org writes:
>re: the info that Prof. Wayne Parrott (a University of Georgia researcher)
>has initiated a letter writing campaign among scientists, asking Frito-Lay
>to reverse its decision.
>
>PERHAPS WE SHOULD ENCOURAGE OUR GROUPS AND SCIENTISTS TO CONTACT FRITO LAY,
COMMENDING THEM TO STAY CLEAR OF G-E CORN. THIS IS THE START OF SOMETHING
BIG. BIOTECH COMPANIES ARE RUNNING SCARED.
You can email them at <consumer.affairs@fritolay.com>
Call them between the hours of 9:00a.m. - 4:30p.m. (CST), at
1-800-352-4477,
and ask for operator 100,
or you can write them at
Frito-Lay
P.O. Box 660634
Dallas, TX
75266-0634
>
Following is Parrott's posting:
To the plant genetics community: Just last week, Frito-Lay announced that it
would no longer use
genetically engineered corn in its products. Since Frito-Lay is the major
snack food provider in the USA, their action can have serious consequences.
This is the tactic that Greenpeace used so effectively in Europe they got one
supermarket chain to agree to boycott GM products, and pretty soon every
other one had to follow suit. In the USA, Greenpeace made a sustained attack
on Kelloggs, which I am proud to report, has held its ground. Frito-Lay
buckled. It is critical that Frito Lay reverse its decision be reversed, or
other food manufacturers will have to follow suit, or face the brunt of all
the adverse publicity Greenpeace and similar groups can muster. It is
essential that Frito-Lay immediately be put on notice that an irate scientist
can be as bad for business as an ardent Greenpeace member. I encourage you to
please contact Frito Lay immediately and get your message across. Each one of
you can either compose your own letter, or copy the one which is provided
below: You can email them at Consumer.affairs@fritolay.com, call them between
the hours of 9:00a.m. _ 4:30p.m. (CST), at 1_800_352_4477, and ask for
operator 100, or you can write them at Frito_Lay P.O. Box 660634 Dallas, TX
75266_0634
To: Frito Lay (consumer.affairs@fritolay.com)
As a scientist, I am appalled at the Frito-Lay's decision to not use
genetically engineered corn in its products. I expect companies to make the
utmost use of science to ensure the quality
and integrity of its products. Companies that cater to hysteria from fringe
groups cannot have the best interest of the consumers at heart. Actions such
as that by Frito Lay inevitably delay the development and
implementation of biotechnology, which in turn promotes current levels of
pesticide use in the environment, and makes it more difficult to address
issues of world hunger and environmental degradation. The real
scientific data have not supported any hazard from those engineered crops that
have made it through the regulatory system in the USA or elsewhere. The data
do show that engineered corn can have lower levels of toxins from naturally
occurring fungal contaminants. Thus, by publicly denouncing the GM corn,
you are willingly selling a product that is less-safer! Hence, I must insist
that Frito Lay publicly reverse its decision that you would not use
genetically engineered corn, acknowledge the role of sound science in
protecting the integrity of your products, and guarantee that your corporate
policies embrace every technology available- including biotechnology-to help
protect the environment and the world's
agricultural resources. No responsible scientist can endorse, support,
purchase, or otherwise patronize products from a company that does not respect
science and the scientific method, and hence implements decisions that do not
contribute to global well-being. Finally, we scientists have learned a lot
from the anti-GMO movement, and plan to be equally effective in getting our
message across. In addition, we will use the our professional societies, and
our students to get the message across. Frito-Lay, we expect you to act with
social responsibility. We strongly suggest that you please retract your
decision corn.
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