Dear RN, I was really pleased to get a message from someone at New Society Publishers (below). They publish quite a few really good books and you can see their catalogue at www.newsociety.com . And the Frankenfood leaflet below originates in Aotearoa (New Zealand) but could be used just about anywhere. Last but not least, a friend from another list (on oceans issues) sends yet more evidence that our (Canadian) government is sold out. (Former evidence of this includes the revelation (CBC Fifth Estate program of Nov. 29, 1994), that Monsanto tried to bribe Health Canada officials to try to get them to fast-track approval of BGH.) all the best, Jan ********************************************************************** Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 14:58:30 -0800 From: info <•••@••.•••> Subject: Re: rn: Vandana Shiva: significance of Seattle Another book [besides Real Food for a Change, cf. rn posting (V. Shiva) of Dec. 13] on the topic of agriculture that some of you may find of interest is Farmageddon, Food and The Culture of Biotechnology by Brewster Kneen. It is a title that we publish here at New Society so I may be a bit biased, but it really is a good introduction to the topic of genetically engineered foods and how to resist them. If you want more info. you can have a look at www.newsociety.com. This is my first time writing but it is great to read all of your comments. So much information. Best Wishes Sara ************************************************************** From: "Janet M Eaton" <•••@••.•••> Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 02:24:56 +0000 Subject: Consumer Warning. RE: Frankenfoods.+Ans. to Michael S <snip> ------- Forwarded Message Follows ------- To: HRAG Topica <•••@••.•••> From: Human Rights Action Group <•••@••.•••> Subject: Fwd: Consumer Warning. RE: Frankenfoods. Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 20:18:02 -0800 Reply-to: •••@••.••• CONSUMER WARNING - The Frankenfoods Fifteen(see list at end) IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOODS IN YOUR SHOPPING CART, YOU BETTER ACT NOW! HERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE YOU BUY ANY FOOD OR BEVERAGE PRODUCTS IN YOUR GROCERY STORE ARE YOU EATING GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOODS? * Lab tests and industry disclosures indicate that 60-75% of all non-organic supermarket foods now "test positive" for the presence of genetically engineered (GE) ingredients. * Despite growing public concern over the safety of milk and dairy products from cows injected with recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH), as well as human health and environmental concerns over genetically engineered corn, soy, canola, and cotton, the US government refuses to require safety-testing or labeling for genetically engineered foods. As a result Europe, Japan, and other nations are now refusing to buy many US food exports. * Mounting scientific evidence suggests that genetically engineered foods may present serious hazards for human health and the environment. The British Medical Association has called for a global ban on GE foods, while the New England Journal of Medicine has warned that "the allergenic potential of these newly intoduced microbial proteins is uncertain, unpredictable, and untestable." Scientists warn that GE foods may set off allergies, increase cancer risks, produce antibiotic-resistant pathogens, damage food quality, and produce dangerous toxins. * Environmental hazards of genetically engineered crops recently discussed in scientific journals and the media include: increased use of toxic pesticides, damage to soil fertility, genetic pollution of adjoining farmlands, harm to Monarch butterflies and beneficial insects such as ladybugs, and the creation of "superpests, "superweeds," and virulent new plant viruses. * Consumer polls over the past decade have shown that 80-95% of Americans want genetically engineered foods to be labeled--mainly so that we can avoid buying them. Fifty members of Congress recently sent a letter to the Food and Drug Administration demanding labeling. In addition, a federal lawsuit has been filed by a broad coalition of scientists, environmental groups, religious leaders, organic farmers, and consumer organizations demanding that all genetically engineered foods be taken off the market until they have been properly safety-tested and labeled. * Turn over this leaflet to see what you can do today to protect yourself and your family from genetically engineered foods. WHAT YOU CAN DO TODAY TO AVOID GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOODS Ask your grocery store manager for a written statement on their policy regarding genetically engineered foods. Request that they identify which food products are genetically engineered and which are not. Tell your grocer to offer a full-line selection of certified organic foods. Organic farmers and producers operate under strict certification rules and do not use any genetically engineered seeds or ingredients. Buy certified organic foods from your local co-op, health food store, farmers market or through a CSA - (Community Supported Agriculture) program. Join the Organic Consumers Association and volunteer to help organize opposition to genetically engineered foods in your local community. Keep informed on genetic engineering and food safety issues by visiting our web site at <http://www.purefood.org> <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Human Rights Action Group 1999 ********************************************************************** Note from Jan: I think maybe Don (of Ocean Voice International) copied this article himself. In any case, despite a few typos, it is important reading. Date: Sat, 18 Dec 1999 16:43:49 -0500 From:c Subject: Gov't of the people, by and for the corporations First the goals of the campaign are set behind closed doors, then the "consultation" takes place, according to an interesting article. Saturday, December 18th, 1999, page A4 THE OTTAWA CITIZEN Government seeks advice to counter food fears. Panel of experts to address growing concern about genetically modified foods BY PAULINE TAM The federal government is confronting growing consumer fears about genetically modified food by asking interested parties for independent advice on whether to change its regulatory system for approving such products. The group of scientists, health professionals and consumer advocates will form an expert panel, it was announced yesterday. The panel will identify the types of biotech foods arriving at government agencies for regulatory approval over the next io years. It will also determine whether federal regulators need additional guidelines to assess the health and environmental impact of these foods. William Leiss, president of the Royal Society of Canada, and Arnold Nairnark, a professor of medicine at the University of Manitoba, will chair the panel that reports to Health Minister Allan Rock, Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Lyle Vanclief and Environment Minister David Anderson. ["The industry is at a crisis period and is a lightening rod for concerns about food safety" Government document] The members of the panel, to be named next month, win be drawn from the ranks of experts currently advising the government on biotechnology issues. They are expected to produce a preliminary report by next summer. Opponents of genetically modified foods say the panel, like other groups set up to advise the federal government on health and biotechnology issues, will have no real influence on public policy. "These panels are window dressing to make it look there's consultation about food but there really is no independence," said Michael McBane of the Canadian Health Coalition. "They're there to rubber-stamp policy." The announcement comes at a time when consumer worries about genetically modified food are high, and the credibility of the country's food-safety system is being called into question. Last month, 2oo scientists from Health Canada's Health Protection Branch signed a petition that, among other things, raised alarm at the acute shortage of scientists for evaluations and risk assessments of genetically, modified foods. Public-health and environmental activists also attacked regulators for relying on industry data rather than original research. The announcement also coincided with a closed-door strategy session yesterday between Mr. Vanclief and representatives of the biotech industry. Among those at the four-hour meeting were senior executives from Monsanto Life Sciences Canada, AgrEvo Canada, Loblaw, the Consumers Association of Canada, and groups representing the country's food manufacturers and grocery distributors. According to government documents obtained by the Canadian Health Coalition and released to the Citizen, the session allowed industry to make recommendations about what government should do in the next six months to im- prove consumer confidence in genetically modified foods. It is the second meeting this year. ne first, on April i2, resulted in a communications strategy aimed at improving consumer knowledge and trust of genetically modified foods, says the internal government document. "The industry is at a crisis period and is a lightning rod for concerns about food safety, the industry is in a period of low trust with consumers and a consolidated effort is needed to address this." The group proposed a strategy to win consumer acceptance of genetically modified foods: * Target a campaign at women who make the main decisions about food and nutrition. Women's magazines and early-morning television shows were seen as good venues to provide information about genetically modified foods. * Identify recognizable public figures and medical professionals "with high credibility" to speak for the industry. * Communicate a consistent set of facts to consumers. * Focus the message on the improvements that biotechnology will bring to human health in the pharmaceutical industry since "there are no direct consumer benefits yet in food." * Make consumers aware of the safety of Canada's food regulatory system.
