Tell Hershey's to Kiss GM Sugar Goodbye!

October 2, 2008

Consumers in Brazil can now eat Hershey's Kisses without fear of GM ingredients. Unfortunately, that is not the case for US consumers. Several weeks ago, Hershey's in Brazil announced that it will not use GM ingredients, including GM beet sugar, in the products it makes in Brazil, but it remains silent about its plans in the US.

US farmers planted GM sugar beet crops for the first time this year. These Roundup Ready® GM sugar beets are genetically altered to resist Monsanto's toxic weed killer, Roundup, and its active ingredient, glyphosate. But here's the scary part:

When the USDA first approved the planting of GM sugar beets, the EPA also increased the maximum allowable residues of glyphosate on the beet roots (from which sugar is extracted) by a staggering 5,000%! This EPA policy change was made at the request of Monsanto, producer of GM sugar beet seeds.

What this means for consumers is that the more GM ingredients permitted in our foods, the greater the likelihood that we are ingesting more toxic chemicals. What's worse is that there will be no way to know if we're eating GM beet sugar once it hits the market, which could happen as early as next year, because GM ingredients are NOT labeled.

In 2001, Hershey's announced that it would not use GM beet sugar, but the company has been noticeably silent on the issue ever since. A double standard is not likely to prevail in the US, where members like you have sent more than a hundred thousand letters to food companies asking them to publicly refuse to use GM sugar in their products. Tell Hershey's to Kiss GM Sugar Goodbye! Write a letter to Hershey's urging the company to publicly reject the use of GM sugar in its chocolates and other sweets.

Send a letter to the following decision maker(s): Hershey Company

Below is the sample letter:

GM beet Sugar

Dear [decision maker name automatically inserted here],

As someone who actively avoids buying genetically modified foods, due to the threats they pose to human health, family farmers and the environment, I know sugar has been one of the few, pure ingredients I could count on to not be GM. Without labels on GM products, I have to rely upon public company statements that they will avoid GM ingredients in their products to inform the purchasing decisions I make for myself and my family.As you know, Hershey's in Brazil recently announced that it will not use GM ingredients, including GM beet sugar, in the products it makes in Brazil, but the company remains silent about its plans in the US. For US consumers this is a disappointing double standard, particularly in light of the widespread consumer opposition to GM foods that exists in this country as well.Several years ago, Hershey's told U.S. consumers it would not use genetically modified sugar. But now that GM sugar beets are being planted commercially in the US, you have made no such public assurances. Please afford US customers the same protections afforded to those in Brazil, and pledge to avoid the use of GM beet sugar in your products.

Sincerely,

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Campaign Expiration Date:December 2, 2008