>FYI - here is the response I received after writing to Lumen Foods (a
>major health food manufacturer)
>about their recent decision to promote GE food.
>
>
>>Good Evening...
>>
>>Those getting this letter are those who sent email
>>concerning our Biotech section, for which I did not
>>have time to formulate a proper response. I apologize
>>for this, as I am usually good about answering all
>>my own email, one-on-one.
>>
>>Our campaign to raise biotech awareness was met by certain
>>people on the non-GMO side who (1) questioned whether or not we
>>had been "bought off" or somehow influenced by
>>large agribusinesses, (2) thought we weren't aware of the facts,
>>or (3) had lost our minds. None of these applies...
>>
>>However, one point we ended up feeling had validity
>>was the absense of a balanced presentation. Over
>>the last 24 hours, we have changed over 17 pages on
>>the site to reflect a remake of the discussion so that
>>the best arguments of those who oppose biotech science
>>get a fair hearing as well.
>>
>>In addition, we are adding Tuesday night meetings on
>>soybean.com/chat so that the public can chat with me
>>and other guests I bring online about biotech -- for
>>and against -- and in a non-hostile environment. We have
>>also gotten Dennis Avery to agree to debate biotech
>>opponents on our web site -- and are in discussions
>>with one prominent non=GMO advocacy group in Fairfield,
>>Iowa, to have one of their best minds represent non-GMO
>>in the debate. This way consumers can make up their minds
>>with a full presentation of the facts by people who
>>understand the issues. All parties on both sides of the
>>issue whom I have spoken to about this have been very
>>upbeat about this kind of engaging dialogue.
>>
>>Again, if you sent me email and I didn't get around to
>>making a proper, detailed response, I apologize. The
>>fact that you can now go into soybean.com/bseries.htm
>>and see many of your ideas integrated into the changes,
>>will, however, let you know in the most concrete terms,
>>that I do listen to you, even if, at this point in the
>>debate, I cannot share all of your views.
>>
>>Greg Caton
>>Lumen Foods (soybean.com)
>>
>>
>>Lastly, at the request of some of our health food retailers,
>>we are will be shipping non-GMO versions of our major
>>lines by March 15th. Many people erroneously thought that
>>we were "converting" to GMO. The fact is, we were choosing
>>the best flours right along - whether they were GMO or not.
>>OUR customers don't buy our product because it's GMO or not,
>>they purchase our products because they have unique, functional
>>features not available from anyone else. We realized, in the
>>end, that they shouldn't end up being hurt, because really,
>>a decision of principle was made by US, not them. And they
>>shouldn't have to suffer for our convictions.
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