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Friends of the Earth's GE Foods Survey
8/99
Did you know that up to 70% of the processed
foods lining supermarket shelves could be the products of genetic
engineering (GE)? Foods that you feed your children including
infant formula, cereal, ice cream, popcorn and soda could contain
ingredients derived from corn that has been altered at the genetic
level to kill insects and soy that has been altered to tolerate
sprayings of toxic chemicals. Unfortunately, despite numerous
health and environmental concerns associated with them, GE foods
presently are not labeled, and consumers cannot exercise their
right to choose whether or not to purchase them.
In the interest of the public's right to
know, Friends of the Earth sent a letter and survey to the CEOs
and Public Relations Departments of close to 100 of the United
States' largest food companies in August 1999. We informed the
companies of the study conducted at Cornell University that showed
that genetically engineered B.t corn could be killing the Monarch
butterfly. In our survey, we asked companies whether or not they
use GE ingredients including B.t. corn in their products and
whether or not they would be willing to refrain from using GE
ingredients.
Although we requested a reply to the survey
by August 27 and followed up with phone calls, nevertheless,
we have received only two responses. The message is clear: Food
companies don't believe that American consumers care about what
they're eating.
Across Europe, consumer pressure has forced
supermarkets and restaurants alike to go "GE-Free."
In the UK, for example, five major national supermarkets have
pledged that their own product lines will be GE-free. Restaurants
indicate on their menus which foods are genetically engineered,
and school cafeterias no longer serve children GE food.
Its time for Americans to take action!
While consumers in Europe enjoy the right to know about the foods
they are eating, Americans are being kept in the dark. It's time
for American consumers to say "NO" to being the guinea
pigs of the genetic engineering experiment. Write to those companies
that produce your favorite foods. Demand that they stop using
genetically engineered ingredients in their products. Click
here to view a list of companies and their food brands.
You can use
the letter we wrote to the food companies or write your own,
be sure to include these points in your letter:
- Long-term studies on the human health
effects of GE foods have not been conducted.
- Genetically engineered corn could be killing
the Monarch butterfly and other precious wildlife. The environmental
costs of GE foods are too great to accept.
- All major supermarket chains in the United
Kingdom (Tesco, Safeway, Sainsbury, Marks and Spencer and Asda)
have pledged to go "GE-free" in their own store brands.
If supermarkets in the UK can go GE-free, so can American supermarkets.
Major food processors including Nestle
and Unilever have also gone GE free in the UK and are finding
sources of GE free ingredients.
If food companies refuse to go GE-free,
they should at least label those products that may contain GE
ingredients so that consumers know what they are eating.
- Back
to Safer Food, Safer Farms Index | See the Letter we Sent | See
the list of companies | The companies' response | Read the
Press Release
| Read
the list of Potential GE Food Ingredients
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