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Date: 7 February, 2001
While countries across the globe are banning biotechs from their borders,
bioengineered crops in the U.S. now cover over 70 million acres, brewing
potential trouble for the health of ecosystems...and for human health.
Genetically engineered foods, sometimes called transgenic foods or biotechs,
are created through the transfering of genes from one to another unrelated
organism. Adding novel genes means adding new traits, abilities...and
potential long-term environmental risks. For example, transgenic plants may
become weeds with adverse effects in agricultural and non-farm ecosystems;
engineered fish that escape rearing facilities may threaten native fish and
aquatic ecosystems.
Introducing novel genes is now common practice in the food industry...adding
concerns about the potential risks to human health. For an excellent summary
of potential health effects, readers should consult "Rachel's Environment and
Health News #716," dated 17 January, 2001, "Biotech: The Basics, Part 1," by
Rachel Massey (http://www.rachel.org). (Sidebar comment: subscribe and support this excellent free service: send an E-mail to
listserv@lists.rachel.org with the words SUBSCRIBE RACHEL-NEWS YOUR FULL NAME
in the message.)
For thoughtful consumers, the choice is clear: tell grocers and restaurants
to stay away from genetically engineered foods. Support laws and policies
which require the food industry to label these genetically engineered foods.
The U.S. already allows "process" labels on other products. "Kosher foods,"
for example, refers to the process by which livestock is slaughtered or food
is prepared; "dolphin-safe" tuna indicates that special nets have been used
that do not trap dolphins. Without labels, consumers lose the freedom to
choose what they will eat and feed their families.
If you are concerned that the Food and Drug Administration is not adequately
safeguarding our food supply, and that consumers deserve the right to know
what's in the food we eat, then contact your representatives in Congress and
also write to: FDA Commissioner, US Food and Drug Administration, 5600
Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20287. To help stay in touch with developments in
the fast-moving field of genetic engineering and its social and environmental
implications, contact the Council for Responsible Genetics, 5 Upland Road,
Suite 3, Cambridge, MA 02140 (http://www.gene-watch.org).
Act today on this EcoAlert, and thank you for your environmental responsibility.
American P.I.E.
Public Information on the Environment
124 High Street, P.O. Box 340
South Glastonbury, CT 06073-0340
Telephone: 1-800-320-APIE(2743)
E-Mail: Info@AmericanPIE.org
EcoAlert subscribe/unsubscribe at our web site: http://www.AmericanPIE.org
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