6 of 11

Yes

Write now Article Tools

ICCR's "Don't Plant GM Beets" Campaign

At long last a bright point in the genetically modified food debate: The Interfaith Center for Corporate Responsibility's campaign "Don't Plant GM Beets"

The cries of an informed minority of Americans that genetically modified foods should be labeled as such has up to now fallen on deaf ears at the FDA and at the federal level of our government.

But when an ethics based block of investors who represent $100 billion worth of invested capital speaks even Wall Street listens! Just this past week the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR), ( www.iccr.org ), launched its website based campaign "Don't Plant GMO Beets," ( www.DontPlantGMOBeets.org ). From this site you can send a form letter to 63 of the biggest food related industries and inform them of your position as a consumer against GMO's and that if a product is not labeled as not containing GMO's you will have to assume that it does contain GMO's and subsequently not purchase it.

Though ICCR has taken a stand against GMO's in general their recent action is in proactive response to this years advent of the recently FDA approved Monsanto genetically modified variety of sugar beet. It will be planted for the first time in the spring of 2008 and end up in the food supply soon after the 2008 harvest.

At long last a heavyweight has weighed in and taken a stand against the continued introduction of genetically modified organisms into our food supply, unlabeled as containing such and therefore leaving the consumer unable to make an informed choice as whether or not to buy and consume such products. Effectively they have sent the message, "You've already gone too far but go no farther!" According to recent surveys over 50% would opt not to buy foods that contain GMO's if given an informed choice, myself included.

That is exactly why the multi-national corporations that developed and introduced this new technology have lobbied and influenced the FDA and our elected officials into not making informative labeling mandatory. One of the worst offenders, Monsanto, has even taken the issue to court in the past to prevent some food producers from labeling their products as not containing GMO's. They eventually lost, of course, but bought themselves the luxury of a court injunction that prevented such non-GMO labeling for a delay of years while it was tied up in the courts pending a final ruling and giving them an uncontested start up period for their recombinant

• 1
• 2
• 3
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Should the FDA require US food manufactures to reveal if foods are genetically modified? ?
We want to hear your view. Write now!