Genetically Engineered Sugar to Hit U.S. in 2008

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ALERT: Genetically Engineered Sugar to Hit U.S. in 2008

 

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Sugar Beet Harvest

 

Background Information: American Crystal, a large Wyoming-based sugar

company and several other leading U.S. sugar providers have announced they will

be

sourcing their sugar from genetically engineered (GE) sugar beets beginning

this year and arriving in stores in 2008. Like GE corn and GE soy, products

containing GE sugar will not be labeled as such.

 

Since half of the granulated sugar in the U.S. comes from sugar beets, a

move towards biotech beets marks a dramatic alteration of the U.S. food supply.

These sugars, along with GE corn and soy, are found in many conventional food

products, so consumers will be exposed to genetically engineered ingredients

in just about every non-organic multiple-ingredient product they purchase.

 

The GE sugar beet is designed to withstand strong doses of Monsanto's

controversial broad spectrum Roundup herbicide. Studies indicate farmers

planting "

Roundup Ready " corn and soy spray large amounts of the herbicide,

contaminating both soil and water. Farmers planting GE sugar beets are told they

may be

able to apply the herbicide up to five times per year. Sugar beets are grown

on 1.4 million acres by 12,000 farmers in the U.S. from Oregon to Minnesota.

 

Meanwhile candy companies like Hershey's are urging farmers not to plant GE

sugar beets, noting that consumer surveys suggest resistance to the product.

In addition the European Union has not approved GE sugar beets for human

consumption.