[asia-apec 1326] Take Action on GE Foods

[Anuradha Mittal]

 Great opportunity to take action on GE foods 


Genetic Engineering Action Alert!  Call for Labeling!

The following advertisement is in today's (Mon. Oct. 18) New York Times:

Unlabeled, untested… and you're eating it.
In secret, genetically engineered foods are showing up on American 
grocery shelves.  Though other countries now label biotech food, the 
U.S. FDA still does not require labels or safety tests.  Don't you have 
the right to know what's in your food?  And if it's safe for your 
family?

(You can find a copy of the ad in the front section of today's New York 
Times, or download it from the Turning Point Project's website at 
http://www.turnpoint.org.)

CALL TO ACTION:
*Cut out the Turning Point Project ad from the New York Times and bring 
it to your grocery store manager.  Ask that the store label all 
genetically engineered foods, and that they require food companies to do 
the same.

*Cut out another copy of the ad and mail it with a letter to the U.S. 
Food and Drug Administration (FDA, the agency responsible for labeling 
your foods as genetically engineered).  In the letter, mention your 
support for the lawsuit asking for stronger safety testing and mandatory 
labeling of all genetically engineered foods.  Mention the following 
case name and docket number:  Alliance for Bio-Integrity v. Shalala, 
Docket Number 98-1300 (CKK).
Mail to:
Jane Henney, Commissioner
Food & Drug Administration
5600 Fisher Lane, Room 1471
Rockville, MD 20857

*Contact the EPA in support of the lawsuit that asks the agency to take 
GMO crops that contain Bt (corn, cotton, and potatoes) off the market 
until further testing is done to evaluate their environmental risks and 
potential threats to organic farmers.  Mention the following case name 
and docket number:  Greenpeace International v. Browner, Docket Number 
99-389 (LFO).
Mail to:
Carol M. Browner, Administrator
Environmental Protection Agency
401 M St., SW, Room W1200
Washington, DC 20460


*The following companies were among those listed as having products that 
tested positive for genetically engineered ingredients.  Please call 
them and express your concern.
 Nabisco (Snackwells granola bars):  1-800-8NABNET  (1-800-862-2638)
 General Mills (Total Corn Flakes, Bac-Os bacon bits):  1-(800) 328-1144
 Heinz (Heinz 2 Baby Cereal):  1-800-USA-BABY (1-800-872-2229)
 Kellogg's (Corn Flakes):  1-800-962-1413
 Nestle (Carnation Alsoy Infant formula):  1-818 549 6818

Visit www.turnpoint.org for more phone numbers, or to get a complete 
list of foods that tested positive for genetically engineered 
ingredients.

More Ways You Can Help:

*Write a letter to the Editor of the New York Times or your local 
newspaper. Refer them to the ad you saw.  Tell them you support our 
advertisements and would like to see follow-up stories on these topics.  
Letters to the New York Times can be sent to:

Letters to the Editor
The New York Times
229 West 43rd Street
New York, NY 10036
Fax (212) 556-3622
e-mail:  letters at nytimes.com

*Eat organic foods.  No private organic certifier in the U.S. allows 
genetically engineered foods to be considered organic.  Currently, 
eating organic is the only way to insure G.E. free food.  

*Keep organic organic.  Write a letter to the US Department of 
Agriculture and demand that no loopholes be included in National Organic 
Standards that would allow any genetically engineered foods to be 
considered organic.  Here's the address for the USDA National Organic 
Program:

Keith Jones
Program Manager, USDA-AMS-TM-NOP
Room 2510 - S
AG Stop 0275
PO Box 96456
Washington D.C. 20090-6456
Or e-mail:   TKeithJones at usda.gov

*Invite a speaker from one of the groups listed in our resource guide to 
come and give a talk to your community about issues of genetic 
engineering that affect you.

*Hang these ads in your office, school, church, and home.  Help spread 
the word about genetic engineering.

*Ask all candidates for office where they stand on genetic engineering. 

Join the fight against hunger. For more information contact foodfirst at foodfirst.org.

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