This is a forwarded message
From: Debbie Ortman <debbie@organicconsumers.org>
To: <>
Date: Thursday, March 09, 2000, 1:23:44 PM
Subject: CONSUMER WARNING/PHONING - ACTION ALERT - PLEASE POST!
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If you want a hard copy of this leaflet please send me your address.
CONSUMER WARNING - The Frankenfoods Fifteen(see list at end)
IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOODS IN YOUR SHOPPING
CART, YOU BETTER ACT NOW!
HERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE YOU BUY ANY FOOD OR BEVERAGE
PRODUCTS IN YOUR GROCERY STORE ARE YOU EATING GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOODS?
* Lab tests and industry disclosures indicate that 60-75% of all
non-organic supermarket foods now "test positive" for the presence of
genetically engineered (GE) ingredients.
* Despite growing public concern over the safety of milk and dairy products
from cows injected with recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH), as well
as human health and environmental concerns over genetically engineered
corn, soy, canola, and cotton, the US government refuses to require
safety-testing or labeling for genetically engineered foods. As a result
Europe, Japan, and other nations are now refusing to buy many US food
exports.
* Mounting scientific evidence suggests that genetically engineered foods
may present serious hazards for human health and the environment. The
British Medical Association has called for a global ban on GE foods, while
the New England Journal of Medicine has warned that "the allergenic
potential of these newly intoduced microbial proteins is uncertain,
unpredictable, and untestable." Scientists warn that GE foods may set off
allergies, increase cancer risks, produce antibiotic-resistant pathogens,
damage food quality, and produce dangerous toxins.
* Environmental hazards of genetically engineered crops recently discussed
in scientific journals and the media include: increased use of toxic
pesticides, damage to soil fertility, genetic pollution of adjoining
farmlands, harm to Monarch butterflies and beneficial insects such as
ladybugs, and the creation of "superpests, "superweeds," and virulent new
plant viruses.
* Consumer polls over the past decade have shown that 80-95% of Americans
want genetically engineered foods to be labeled--mainly so that we can
avoid buying them. Fifty members of Congress recently sent a letter to the
Food and Drug Administration demanding labeling. In addition, a federal
lawsuit has been filed by a broad coalition of scientists, environmental
groups, religious leaders, organic farmers, and consumer organizations
demanding that all genetically engineered foods be taken off the market
until they have been properly safety-tested and labeled.
* Turn over this leaflet to see what you can do today to protect yourself
and your family from genetically engineered foods.
WHAT YOU CAN DO TODAY TO AVOID GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOODS
Ask your grocery store manager for a written statement on their policy
regarding genetically engineered foods. Request that they identify which
food products are genetically engineered and which are not.
Tell your grocer to offer a full-line selection of certified organic foods.
Organic farmers and producers operate under strict certification rules and
do not use any genetically engineered seeds or ingredients.
Buy certified organic foods from your local co-op, health food store,
farmers market or through a CSA - (Community Supported Agriculture) program.
Join the Organic Consumers Association and volunteer to help organize
opposition to genetically engineered foods in your local community. Keep
informed on genetic engineering and food safety issues by visiting our web
site at <http://www.purefood.org>
Call the 15 companies listed below - The Frankenfoods Fifteen - and tell
them you will not purchase their foods or beverages unless they can provide
you with written
assurance that their products do not contain genetically engineered
ingredients.
You can also make a difference by registering your consumer opinion with
major U S. food manufacturers. Nestle and Unilever have already promised to
take GE ingredients out of their babyfoods; Kellogg's, General Mills,
Quaker, Nabisco, Kraft, McDonald's, Hershey's, Safeway, Healthy Choice,
Frito-Lay and Heinz are a few of the companies whose products have tested
positive for GE ingredients.
Say "This is (your name) and I'm a (company name) customer. I'm calling
to give you my opinion on Genetically Engineered ingredients in your
products. I'd like you to discontinue using them as soon as possible, and
until that time, please label any products that contain them." They might
ask for your address in order to locate you for their statistics. It's very
simple and easy to call 15 companies in less than an hour, and THESE
COMPANIES ARE LISTENING - YOUR CALL COUNTS!
Safeway
800-723-3929
Frito-Lay
800-352-4477
Kellogg's
800-962-1413
Nestle
800 452-1971
Heinz Foods
888-472-8437
Healthy Choice
800-323-9980
Kraft
800-543-5335
Hershey's
800-468-1714
Coca-Cola
800-438-2653
Nabisco
800-862-2638
Quaker Oats
800-367-6287
Starbucks
800-782-7282
McDonald's
630-623-3000
General Mills
800-328-1144
Procter and Gamble
800-595-1407
To Get Involved in your local area, write or call:
Organic Consumers Association/BioDemocracy Campaign
6114 Hwy 61 Little Marais, Minnesota 55614
Tel. 218-726-1443 Fax 218-726-1446
email <campaign@organicconsumers.org>
Web Site <www.purefood.org>
To download this in a leaflet format/hard copy go to our website at
www.purefood.org
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Best regards,
Douglas
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