Archive for the ‘GMO’ Category

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Stop GE/GMO Wheat

Saturday, December 10th, 2016

Frankenfood

By Catherine Haug, Dec 10, 2016 (image, right, from Organic Consumers Association, used with permission)

The Montana Organic Association’s ‘Organic Matters‘ newsletter, Fall 2016 (1) included an article by Green America titled “Stop GE Wheat.” Its intent is to encourage people to sign a petition to prevent the introduction of genetically engineered (GE) wheat.

This campaign is critical to all of Montana’s wheat farmers who grow wheat for flour sold in the US, but also imported around the world. The types of GE wheat currently being developed/tested are herbicide-tolerant varieties, such as Roundup-ready. Note: wheat is in so many processed foods, not just breads and cookies. See Kids with Food Allergies (2) for list of what to look for on labels.

If this campaign is important to you, consider signing the petition at stopGEwheat.org.

NOTE: GE and GMO both refer to artificial modification of genes, producing varieties that could not otherwise be produced by breeding.

Read on for my transcription of the article. (more…)

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Posted in Agriculture, GMO | No Comments »

GMO news: It only gets worse

Wednesday, October 5th, 2016
Frankenfood

Frankenfood

By Catherine Haug, Oct 5, 2016 (image, right, from Organic Consumers Association, used with permission)

With GMOs, it only gets worse by the day.

  • First, Congress passes a sham GMO labeling law that becomes law; see my article from July 30: Pres. Obama signed the Dark Act (faulty GMO-labeling law). It allows QR codes or 800 numbers to substitute for words on the label that would indicate the product contains GMOs. See my December 2015 post, QR code’ to label GMO foods? for more.
  • Then there’s a new version of GMOs (1) that will likely not be covered by the new law (i.e., they won’t require labeling) because the don’t insert genes from another species but rather manipulate the native gene, such as by turning the gene off. Examples of this new GMO: GMO apples and potatoes that won’t turn brown when you cut them. Because the genetic modification suppresses the gene for a key immune-system enzyme, it increases the chance the apple can be infected with bacterial or fungal disease, which in turn can result in toxicity issues when the apple is consumed.See my post GMO Apples for more.
  • And now, new evidence that GMOs have spread around the world and can even cross-pollinate with non-GMO plants to produce 100% GMO seeds – even with Organic crops, so that we can no longer trust the Organic label. That is, Organic seeds are GMO-contaminated and will produce GMO plants even if they are grown Organically. Franken-Broccoli is a perfect example (2, 4).

Say what?

Yes, you read that right. It’s downright scary. What can you do? For starters, you can take action on the last issue by signing a petition telling the USDA to stop ignoring GM cross-contamination (3). And you can hope/pray that a test is developed to determine if a seed contains GMO genes. Read on for more about Franken-broccoli. (more…)

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Posted in Agriculture, Food-Nutrition-Health, Gardening, GMO | No Comments »

Pres. Obama signed the Dark Act (faulty GMO-labeling law)

Saturday, July 30th, 2016
Frankenfood

Frankenfood

By Catherine Haug, July 2016 (Image, right, from Organic Consumers Association, used with permission)

We have all worked so hard to defeat the DARK Act – the bill that kept coming back, written by Monsanto and other chemical and seed companies. It’s all been for naught, as the most recent version, a so-called compromise bill sponsored by a Republican and a Democrat, was passed by both houses and signed by our President.

I’ve copied a message below, originally from the White House about the bill for your reference. I’m so bummed. Those of us who want mandatory GMO labeling in clear words (not QR codes or telephone numbers) now have serious work to do. Plus the new law allows some GMO ingredients not to be labeled, and also allows GMO seeds not to be labeled. What’s up with that?

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) now has the responsibility to implement the law. This includes undertaking a study to determine whether consumers – we the people –  face challenges related to our access to electronic disclosures (read the attached email for more)/

We, the consumers, have a responsibility to make sure the USDA knows we don’t like this plan and we have trouble discerning what does/does not contain GMO ingredients. (more…)

Posted in Agriculture, Ecology, GMO | No Comments »

Vermont’s GMO Labeling law and the anti-labeling push

Wednesday, June 15th, 2016
GMO Button

GMO Button

By Catherine Haug, June 15, 2016

It’s less than a month before Vermont’s mandatory GMO labeling law takes effect, and you can be sure Monsanto, et. al., are doing all they can to pass Sen. Robert’s  DARK Act, or any compromise that doesn’t mandate on-package labels for genetically engineered foods, to stop this Vermont law from taking effect.

From the Farm-To-Consumer-Legal-Defence-Fund (1):

(Sen. Roberts’] bill, dubbed the Deny Americans the Right to Know (DARK) Act, would preempt state GMO labeling laws, taking power away from our state legislatures….

In place of state laws for mandatory, on-package labeling, the DARK Act would continue the failed approach of voluntary labeling, together with secretive QR codes, websites, and call-in numbers, none of which serve to inform the majority of consumers about what is in their food.

Montana’s Senator Tester supports mandatory labeling of GMOs – in words, not QR codes. I’m not so sure about Sen. Daines’ stance.

If you have an opinion on mandatory GMO labeling, please contact your senators. See US Senators, by state: senate.gov where senators are listed in alphabetical order by last name.

References:

FTCLDF on GMO Labeling: farmtoconsumer.org/gmo-labeling-reject-hr1599/

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New GMO Label from Campbells

Tuesday, May 31st, 2016

CampbellsGMO labelBy Catherine Haug, May 31, 2016 (Image, right and below, from Twitter (1))

As Big Food prepares for Vermont’s GMO Labeling law to take effect in July of this year, GMO labels are beginning to appear on processed foods. The image, right, and larger version below, is the back label on a can of Campbell’s Spaghettios (1). Note the “What’s in my Food” image just to the right of the GMO information, and the url for WhatsinMyFood.com, which are part of Campbell’s campaign for transparency.

Big AG (Monsanto, et.al.) are in a panic, and are once again planning to introduce a new Senate version of the DARK Act. (The actual but mis-leading name  is “Safe and Accurate Labeling Act;” it would allow voluntary labeling with QR codes that would require a smartphone to read; see my earlier post: ‘QR code’ to label GMO foods? for more).

If you want mandatory GMO labeling (not voluntary QR codes), watch the video (below), then contact your Senators; see Government (Contact). Here’s contact info for our MT Senators:

(more…)

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Battle on GMO labeling making significant progress

Tuesday, May 17th, 2016
Frankenfood

Frankenfood

By Catherine Haug, May 17, 2016 (Image, right, from OCA, used with permission)

ESP has been a strong advocate of GMO labeling, and now it seems as though the battle is going through a much anticipated turning point. Andrew Kimbrell* has written a great article on this turn-around, (also available on Food Revolution Network website (1))  “In a Remarkable Triumph of Democracy Over Corporate Power, GMO Labeling Has Finally Arrived in the U.S.” This article is copied below, and can also be read (with a great photo) on the Food Revolution website (1).

‘* Andrew Kimbrell is an internationally recognized public interest attorney, public speaker, and author. He is the founder and Executive Director of Center for Food Safety. (2)

See also my recent related articles, and a link to all GMO articles on this site:

Read on for the Food Revolution article: (more…)

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Posted in Ecology, GMO | No Comments »

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