Greenpeace True Food Network January Newsletter

[Guest guest]

Greenpeace True Food Network

January Newsletter and one action alert

 

Inside this Edition:

 

- Take Action! UK Supermarkets Keep GE Food Off Shelves -

Demand U.S. Supermarkets Do the Same!

- Monsanto CEO Resigns-Profits Down 50%

- Greenpeace China Launches Consumer Network

- Monsanto Announces Plan to Introduce GE Wheat

- StarLink Corn Discovered in Japan

- Alabama Grandmothers Appeal Decision

- Join the Caravan Across the Corn Belt

- Check out the Greenpeace Year-In Review

 

TAKE ACTION!

UK Supermarkets Remain GE-Free-

Double-Standard for U.S.

 

The UK organization, gmfoodnews.com, completed its annual

survey of UK supermarkets for their position on genetically

modified (GM) food and ingredients for 2003. Included in

the survey was Sainsbury's, the British supermarket chain

which owns the U.S. supermarket chains, Shaw's and

Star Market. Sainsbury's has ended its use of genetically

engineered food in its brand products sold in the UK,

but not in the U.S.

 

The results show that opposition to GE foods is as

strong as it was in 1999, when the UK supermarkets

removed GM foods and ingredients from their shelves.

Just as in 1999, no UK supermarket includes GM

food or ingredients in their own-brand products.

Increasingly, supermarkets are also specifying GM-free

feed for animals producing their meat, milk and eggs.

 

Supermarkets maintain this position because of the

continued rejection by consumers of GM foods.

Consumers believe that GM foods are unsafe, untested

and may cause environmental damage. Sainsbury's

stated:

 

" In response to overwhelming customer concern we

have eliminated GM ingredients from all our own

brand food, pet food and dietary supplements. "

 

To Take Action Online go to

http://www.truefoodnow.org/take_action/petition.html

 

------

 

Monsanto CEO Resigns -Profits Down 50%

 

Despite the latest industry hype, all is not well for the Gene Giants.

Monsanto, seller of 80 percent of the

genetically engineered seeds on the market, announced in

December that their CEO, Hendrik Verfaillie,

would resign. The news came on the heels of the

corporation's economic downturn -profits dipped 50

percent from January 2002. The sale of the herbicide

Roundup accounts for half of Monsanto's sales. The

company was sold off by Pharmacia late last year over

growing concerns about the company's risky

ventures into agriculture genetic engineering.

In related news, researchers are finding increasing weed

resistance to glyphosphate, the active ingredient in Roundup.

 

For more information on Monsanto, check out:

http://www.organicconsumers.org/monlink.html

 

------

 

Greenpeace China Launches Consumer Network

 

Guangzhou, China, January 17th 2003 -Greenpeace

released China's first comprehensive survey of

consumer attitudes towards GE food, showing that

as in the developed countries, the majority of consumers

favored non-GE food, and strongly demanded a labeling

system to protect their right to know and to reject

GE food.

 

The survey conducted in the southern city of Guangzhou

showed that although 64% of Guangzhou citizens

did not know that GE food products were sold

in supermarkets and a clear majority of respondents would

choose GE-free food. Many were willing to pay more

for non-GE food with over 40% indicating that they

would still choose a non-GE product even if it costs

10% more than a GE counterpart. An overwhelming

majority, over 80%, wanted GE food products to

be labeled.

 

Greenpeace also launched its GE Food Roadshow

at the city of Guangzhou, marking a start of its consumer

campaign in the largest food market in the world. In an

event, the first of its kind in mainland China,

blindfolded volunteers from a local environmental organization,

Green Hope, stationed themselves outside

the press conference venue holding Nestle's Maggi

Beancurd and Vegetables Soup and Nesquik products -

all found to contain GE ingredients. As the Year of the

Goat is approaching, the Roadshow will carry the

slogan, " Stay Away from GE Food, Enjoy a Healthy

New Year. "

-----

Monsanto Announces Plan to Introduce GE Wheat

 

Monsanto recently filed for regulatory approval in the

United States and Canada for the commercialization

of its genetically engineered wheat. The wheat is

resistant to the herbicide Roundup. According to the

Billings Gazette, the Montana Legislature will be asked

to prevent the introduction of GE wheat for

commercial production until the state can guarantee

that critical Pacific Rim grain markets won't be lost.

A second bill would impose a hefty bond on those

wishing to introduce the grain.

 

The bills arise from the fear of some state

producers that Montana's major crop will find

no buyers in Asia if shipments are found

" contaminated " with genetically modified wheat.

 

In a survey of Asian wheat buyers, millers and end

users conducted by U.S. Wheat Associates, the

respondents overwhelmingly rejected the prospect

of buying genetically modified wheat. Even trace

amounts of the genetically altered product in a

shipment would result in rejection, the survey showed.

 

For more information on GE Wheat, check out the

Greenpeace report:

http://www.greenpeace.ca/e/resource/publications/gmo/daily_bread.pdf

-----

StarLink Corn Discovered in Japan

 

StarLink corn, the GE corn banned for use in human

food, has reared its ugly head again. This time in

Japan. Japanese officials reported finding StarLink

in U.S. corn exports. StarLink is banned in Japan

because it may cause food allergies.

 

According to Reuters Japan, Japanese corn buyers

are reluctant to start import deals for April-June

shipment in the first business week of 2003 because

of higher import costs and fears of possible

contamination of U.S. cargo by banned biotech

corn, and that Japanese food makers were

wary of buying U.S. corn due to safety concerns

after Japan's Health Ministry discovered traces of

gene-spliced StarLink corn in shipments from the

United States in late December.

 

One trader said, " It appears that corn seeds contaminated

by StarLink were planted in the United States last

year. Japanese importers feel reluctant to buy U.S.

corn for food use, and they are looking into the

possibility of sourcing corn from other countries. "

-----

 

Alabama Grandmothers Appeal Decision

 

Gerry Coffey and Jean Tune, two Alabama grandmothers

who were arrested for petitioning and leafleting

on the GE food issue in front of a Kroger's, are

appealing their case to state court. The two were arrested

in October during a national day of action for the

Supermarket Campaign. They took their case to court

where a local judge found them guilt of tresspassing,

fining them $50 each. To find out more about their

appeal or to send your support, send your

messages to: GMCoffey

-----

 

Join the Caravan Across the Cornbelt!

 

May 19th to June 19th A fun and educational bicycle

Caravan Across the Cornbelt from St. Louis, to

Washington, DC, where the Biotechnology Industry

Organization will hold their annual convention a

month later. The Caravan will be a month-long

bicycle spectacle covering over 1000 miles, featuring

puppet shows, presentations, speak-outs, freak-outs,

clown acts, and music. All concerned citizens, clowns,

puppeteers, bike riders, messengers, farmers, and

eaters of food are invited to bring a bicycle and

join the ride! Contact caravan

 

For more information go to http://www.biodev.org

--------

 

Check out the Greenpeace Year-In Review at

http://www.truefoodnow.org/inside_scoop/2002-yearinreview.html

 

 

Help Greenpeace spread the word. Forward this e-mail on to other caring

individuals.

 

Want to do more? Become a Greenpeace member today!

To give online, go to:

https://www.greenpeaceusa.org/join2/list.htm