Reply to response received from FritoLay Consumer Affairs:
Tuesday, March 28, 2000, 4:58:52 PM, you wrote:
AC> Thank you for contacting Frito-Lay. We are always pleased when our
AC> consumers take the time to share their thoughts with us.
And I'm always pleased when I get a straight answer rather than a form
letter like this one.
AC> Now that there is a renewed interest in biotechnology by
AC> regulatory agencies and some consumer concern exists, we did not
AC> feel it appropriate to ask our growers to include bt crops in what
AC> they sell us.
A luke warm, non-committal response.
AC> Just like other food companies, Frito-Lay relies on and supports
AC> the regulatory agencies charged with safeguarding our food supply
AC> when sourcing ingredients for our products.
Sorry to hear that. To me, that's irresponsible. I suggest you review
the matter in depth, develop your own criteria take a stance, just
like any other congruent, thinking person's food company.
AC> These agencies continue to report that genetically modified
AC> ingredients are perfectly safe.
Could that be part of the problem? Are so many other governments
(particularly in Europe) that far off base? Or is something wrong in
"these agencies" that haven't bothered to investigate the issue in any
depth before permitting the widespread release of GMOs.
As a matter of fact, NO ONE has "reported that genetically modified
ingredients are perfectly safe, since the conclusive research required
has yet to be done. The negative results now coming in from what
research HAS been done, highlight the gross lack of concern for the
environment and public health on the part of "these agencies" as well
as those who hide behind their skirts.
AC> Since we are also a large buyer of agricultural commodities, and
AC> more than a quarter of the North American crop is derived from
AC> biotechnology, just like other food companies, we could have
AC> biotechnology ingredients in our products.
That's nothing more than a cop-out. I'm truly disappointed.
AC> Thank you for taking the time to contact Frito-Lay. We hope this
AC> information is helpful.
Only to the degree that it shows me that I'll need to look elsewhere
for the GMO free food sources I want.
I strongly urge FritoLay to reconsider their position.
AC> Frito-Lay Consumer Affairs
AC> Reference #: CAFS-4H2KKE
Douglas Hinds
*********** REPLY SEPARATOR ***********
AC> Original Text:
AC> To: Consumer Affairs/Frito-Lay/US@Frito-Lay
AC> cc:
AC> bcc:
AC> From: Douglas Hinds <dmhinds@acnet.net>@SMTP@Exchange
AC> Date: 03/02/2000 02:47:19 AM
AC> Subject: Your wise decision
AC> Email Body:
AC> Dear Sirs:
AC> Permit me to congratulate Frito-Lay regarding it's courageous and
AC> well thought decision to join Gerber and Heinz, whose directors also
AC> wisely chose to exclude the use of Genetically Modified ingredients in
AC> their food products.
AC> The inherent risks that accompany the use of Genetically Modified.
AC> organisms in the food chain and / or their release to the environment
AC> at large, are neither necessary nor justified by the professed
AC> benefits claimed by those holding the patents to them, given that
AC> millions of years of biological development have resulted in a
AC> bountiful diversity that merits further study and preservation, an
AC> endeavor still far from completion.
AC> The glib and shallow claims made by those promoting novel, man made
AC> organisms shine feebly next to the potential emanating from natural
AC> resources that require no disarticulation in order to reproduce new
AC> and traditional products that are highly useful to man; products that
AC> grow from within and evolve from an inter-species collaboration that
AC> fully respects the integrity of the whole organism.
AC> I suggest that Frito-Lay take their decision one step farther by
AC> taking the additional actions required to assure a 100% GMO free
AC> product and declaring that fact publicly. It has every right to reap
AC> the benefits that act would bring. Once again, I recognize the
AC> congruence of your decision thus far and urge you to complete the
AC> process: Consumers of Frito-Lay products will support that next,
AC> logical and laudable step.
AC> Thanking you beforehand for your your attention, I remain
AC> Sincerely yours,
AC> Douglas Hinds, Dir. Gral. - CeDeCoR, A.C.
AC> Centro para el Desarrollo Comunitario y Rural, Asociacion Civil
AC> (Center for Rural and Community Development,
AC> a Mexican non-profit organization)
AC> Cordoba, Veracruz; Cd. Guzman, Jalisco; Loma Bonita, Oaxaca
AC> & Reynosa, Tamaulipas Mexico
AC> Mail: Apdo. Postal No. 171
AC> Fortin de las Flores, Veracruz
AC> 94471 Mexico
AC> Tel: 011 522 713 2888 (Direct at present)
AC> U.S. Fax Mailbox (email linked) 630 300 0555
AC> cedecor@acnet.net, dmhinds@acnet.net,
AC> dhinds@prodigy.net.mx
AC> Hablando se entiende la gente.
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