What is a GMO? Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are made by forcing genes from one species, such as bacteria, viruses, or other organisms, into the DNA of food crops or animals in order to introduce a new trait. This is frequently done between species that could never reproduce together in nature and can only be done in a laboratory. The foods most likely to be genetically engineered today include: soy, corn, canola, cotton/cottonseed oil, beet sugar and alfalfa (mostly fed to animals). Organics are not allowed to contain GMOs but contamination of organic crops from genetically engineered crops growing nearby remains a serious issue. WHY LABEL GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOODS? 1. Genes transferred from bacteria allow food crops to survive otherwise deadly doses of toxic weed killer, and/or to produce a toxic pesticide in their cells. Herbicides used on these crops leave higher residues of these toxins in our food. 2. Genetically engineered crops are not required to undergo safety testing. 3. The Government does not mandate independent, properly designed, long term testing for health and safety effects. 4. Many GMOs are associated with allergic reactions. The rise in allergies in the U.S., including life- threatening reactions, has increased along with GMO consumption. This occurred in Europe until GMOs were labeled there in 1998. 5. The American Academy of Environmental Medicine cited animal studies showing health risks associated with genetically engineered food, including infertility, immune problems, accelerated aging, faulty insulin regulation, and changes in the gastrointestinal system, and recommended that physicians encourage patients to avoid GMOs. AAEMonline.org. 6. The American Medical Association has called for mandatory safety testing, but this has never been required. 7. The American Public Health Association supports labeling. The Illinois Public Health Association supports SB1666. 8. The so-called “Monsanto Protection Act” was recently enacted to prevent courts from halting the use of certain genetically modified seeds. While this expires in the fall of 2013, similar measures could be taken by Congress again. 9. United States government agencies entrusted with regulating health and safety matters are heavily staffed with officers having significant associations with Monsanto. This presents serious conflicts of interest and raises questions as to the integrity of our policies pertaining to food health and safety. 10. Small family farms and organic farmers suffer from Monsanto’s efforts to control seed availability and from contamination with genetically engineered crops growing nearby. 11. Increasingly the only seeds available to many farmers are privatized, patented seeds, and the decreasing number of available varieties of seeds threatens biodiversity, thus threatening our food supply. 12. Experience in other countries demonstrates that labeling GMOs need not raise food prices to consumers. 13. Genetically engineered crops require more toxic pesticide use, especially herbicides. 14. Genetically engineered crops may contribute to the worldwide decline of Monarch butterfly and bee populations. 15. GM Ingredients are in an estimated 70% of all processed foods. LABELING WILL HELP YOU MAKE YOUR OWN CHOICES! SUPPORT SB1666! Learn More at These Websites and Contact These Local Representatives: 1. Institute for Responsible Technology – responsibletechnology.org 2. Organic Consumers Association – organicconsumers.org, organicconsumerschicago@gmail 3. Food and Water Watch – FoodAndWaterWatch.org, Jessica Fujan [email protected] 4. Illinois Right To Know GMO – IllinoisRightToKnowGMO.org, [email protected] Illinois Right to Know P.O. Box 496 Glenview IL 60025
Posted on: Mon, 02 Sep 2013 23:32:00 +0000
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