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UPDATE

UPDATE. GM: Genetically Modified foods GE: Genetically Engineered foods. What are they?. Pesticides/Insecticides Herbicides (Round-Up most common) Pharmaceuticals Bacteria (Bt) Other species (flounder genes in tomatoes for cold storage).

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UPDATE

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  1. UPDATE GM: Genetically Modified foods GE: Genetically Engineered foods

  2. What are they? • Pesticides/Insecticides • Herbicides (Round-Up most common) • Pharmaceuticals • Bacteria (Bt) • Other species (flounder genes in tomatoes for cold storage)

  3. ocean pout (eel-like fish) genes in salmon for larger and faster growth

  4. Major GE growers: United States – largest grower Canada Argentina Brazil China India by default – trade agreements

  5. GE Foods • milk and all milk products (rBgh) • corn (86% of US crop) …now sweet corn • soy (90% of US crop) • Canola oil (93% - Canada) • sugar beets (95% for sugar industries: candy…)

  6. GE Foods • cotton (93%) cottonseed oil • (Hawaiian) papaya • (some) zucchini and yellow squash • (some) rice • (some) tomatoes

  7. FDA approved but on tentative hold • salmon • alfalfa • wheat • Dow’s 2-4-D (agent orange) corn

  8. Over 40 nations ban GE foods • Lack of quality control • Lack of regulation (industry regulates self) • Growing number of confirmed studies proving dangers • Ecological concerns

  9. Corporate Stance We support a moratorium on the planting of GE (genetically engineered) crops pending environmental and human safety studies. Until such time as this technology is proven safe, all foods containing GE ingredients should be labeled. June 2004

  10. Companies • Monsanto (St. Louis) • Dow (Midland, MI) • Syngenta (Switzerland) • ADM (Decatur, IL) • Cargill (Minnetonka, MN)

  11. Industrial Claims • increase yields • decrease use of chemicals • increase nutritional content • “We need GE foods to feed the world.”

  12. Issues – What has happened? • adverse animal/human health effects • cross contamination with native species • organic farmers losing certification & crops due to contamination • loss of pure genetic strains • super weeds from chemical use

  13. Issues – What has happened? • increased chemical use poisoning air, water, soil • loss of farmer autonomy • victim farmers - Monsanto suing farmers when farmers crops contaminated by GE

  14. Issues – What has happened? • use of political trade agreements forcing poorer nations to accept GE foods as requirement of aid Since mid 1990s ¼ million Indian farmers have committed suicide

  15. Ntl Grass Roots Campaign Just Label It

  16. State Initiatives • California – on Nov ballot • Oregon – getting signatures for ballot • Hawaii – Right2Know • Connecticut, Vermont, Minnesota – lawsuit threats by Monsanto • Washington – Monsanto-sponsored chairs in agri committee Just Label It

  17. Illinois • HB 1429 • all foods containing or produced with GE material must be clearly marked with a label placed in a conspicuous place Just Label It

  18. Illinois • Introduced 2/8/11 • Read and made its way into Committee • Languished for months • Re-referred to Rules Committee 3/9/12 Just Label It

  19. Federal • Consumers Right to Know About Genetically Engineered Food Act • Senate voted it down 73-26 (June 2012) • Durbin voted against labeling • Kirk a “no vote” (not present) Just Label It

  20. Ntl Grass Roots Campaign Just Label It

  21. International Labeling • India became the 50th nation to require labeling of GE foods (June 2012) • It joins the European Union, Japan, China…. Just Label It

  22. What Can We do? • Support all labeling efforts • Wherever you are on the issue…. Know when you are purchasing GE foods

  23. Tips for avoiding GM crops Buy Organic Products listed as “natural” are not GM/GE or chemical free Look for “Non-GMO” Labels Avoid at-risk ingredients listed on back (Non-GM products are mixed with GM at granaries, dairies, etc.)

  24. Shopping Guide: Unless specified as organic, the following ingredients will contain GMO/GE • Canola oil • Corn - dextrose, flour, fructose, glucose, gluten, high fructose, maltodextrin, meal, oil, starch, syrup • Cottonseed oil • Meat - Meat and dairy products usually come from animals that have eaten GM feed. • Milk and milk products (unless labeled rbGH free) • Soy - beans, flour, isoflavone, isolate, lecithin, nuts, oil, protein, sauce, or US produced/processed edamame, tofu, miso, or tempeh • Sweeteners using sugar beets, aspartame, Nutri-sweet, (Anything not listed as 100% cane sugar) • Vegetable Oil - Most are made from soy, corn, canola, or cottonseed • Vitamins - Vitamin C often made from corn. Vitamin E usually made from soy. Vitamins A, B2, B6, B12 may be derived from GMOs. Vitamin D and K may have "carriers" derived from GM corn sources.

  25. AJ Adkins stood up to give his Bar Mitzvah speech, linking the passage into the promised land with GMO foods and thus educating the guests.

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