Fwd: [wiseweeds] OFF TOPIC GE foods

[Guest guest]

While this is not strictly speaking a TCM topic, this is something that

increasing numbers of TCM and other healers are starting to pay attention to.

For example, the Rocky Mountain Herbal Institute which teaches TCM courses has a

course on environmental factors and poor health.

 

Victoria

 

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DATE: Wed, 22 Mar 2000 10:41:56

Catherine Novak <cnovak

" wiseweeds " <wiseweeds >

 

Catherine Novak <cnovak

 

>Subj: CONSUMER WARNING/PHONING - ACTION ALERT - PLEASE POST!

> 3/9/00 5:16:16 PM Eastern Standard Time

> debbie (Debbie Ortman)

>

>If you want a hard copy of this leaflet please send me your address.

>

>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>

>

>Call the 15 companies listed below - The Frankenfoods Fifteen - and

tell

>them you will not purchase their foods or beverages unless they can

provide

>you with written

>assurance that their products do not contain genetically engineered

>ingredients.

>

> You can also make a difference by registering your consumer opinion

with

>major U S. food manufacturers. Nestle and Unilever have already

promised to

>take GE ingredients out of their babyfoods; Kellogg's, General Mills,

>Quaker, Nabisco, Kraft, McDonald's, Hershey's, Safeway, Healthy Choice,

 

>Frito-Lay and Heinz are a few of the companies whose products have

tested

>positive for GE ingredients.

>

>Say " This is (your name) and I'm a (company name) customer. I'm calling

 

>to give you my opinion on Genetically Engineered ingredients in your

>products. I'd like you to discontinue using them as soon as possible,

and

>until that time, please label any products that contain them. " They

might

>ask for your address in order to locate you for their statistics. It's

very

>simple and easy to call 15 companies in less than an hour, and THESE

>COMPANIES ARE LISTENING - YOUR CALL COUNTS!

>

>Safeway

>800-723-3929

>Frito-Lay

>800-352-4477

>Kellogg's

>800-962-1413

>Nestle

>800 452-1971

>Heinz Foods

> 888-472-8437

>Healthy Choice

>800-323-9980

>Kraft

>800-543-5335

>Hershey's

> 800-468-1714

>Coca-Cola

>800-438-2653

>Nabisco

>800-862-2638

>Quaker Oats

>800-367-6287

>Starbucks

>800-782-7282

>McDonald's

>630-623-3000

>General Mills

>800-328-1144

>Procter and Gamble

>800-595-1407

>

>To Get Involved in your local area, write or call:

>Organic Consumers Association/BioDemocracy Campaign

>6114 Hwy 61 Little Marais, Minnesota 55614

>Tel. 218-726-1443 Fax 218-726-1446

 

>email <campaign

>Web Site <www.purefood.org>

>

>To download this in a leaflet format/hard copy go to our website at

>www.purefood.org

 

 

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The information in this post should not replace advice given by your medical

practitioner.

 

 

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