Edwards, Richardson, and Dodd Support Mandatory Labeling of Genetically Engineered Foods

[Catchawave]

Edwards, Richardson, and Dodd Take Stand in Iowa in Favor of Mandatory Labeling of Genetically Engineered Foods

The Campaign, October 13, 2007
Straight to the Source


Fairfield, IA - Senator John Edwards, Governor Bill Richardson, and Senator Chris Dodd have all gone on record in favor of mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods this week in Iowa. In response to questions during their campaign visits to Fairfield this week, each candidate stated he would support legislation to require the mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods if elected to be President of the United States.

The three democratic candidates join many leaders in Iowa and the country who are calling for mandatory labeling legislation for genetically engineered foods. Presidential candidate Representative Dennis Kucinich also supports labeling of genetically engineered foods and has lead this effort in Congress for several years.

A report funded by the USDA and conducted by Rutgers University found that 89% of the American public feels the Federal Government should require the labeling of genetically engineered foods. Only 10% felt that labeling should not be required.

All the known effects of genetically engineered foods have been documented in the book: Genetic Roulette: The Documented Health Risks of Genetically Engineered Foods, by Jeffrey Smith. With input from more than 30 scientists over two years, it presents 65 health risks of GE foods and why current safety assessments are not competent to protect us from most of them. The book documents lab animals with damage to virtually every system and organ studied; thousands of sick, sterile, or dead livestock; and people around the world who have traced toxic or allergic reactions to eating GE products, breathing GE pollen, or touching GE crops at harvest. It also exposes many incorrect assumptions that were used to support GE approvals. Organizations worldwide are presenting the book to policy makers as evidence that GE foods are unsafe and need to be removed immediately.

more...http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_7684.cfm

[robinlynne]

1. yes!

[gateley]

2. Excellent - good for them! nt

[panader0]

3. GE foods scare the shit out of me

How about the cattle that eat them? As I understand it, companies like Monsanto alter the grains, etc., to be able to withstand the pesticides they use. So, GE foods are not just weird fron being altered, but also exposed to heavy chemicals. Yuck!

[Lucinda]

4. Good news!

[sam sarrha]

5. how about labeling of Poisoned Chinese food first..??

[Catchawave]

6. That would be our current administration.

Please contact the White House at 1-800-Eat-Shit :evilgrin:

[Yael]

7. Good start. I want country labels as well though.

[Honeycombe8]

8. Great. Now let's see if the hundreds of congresspeople will go along.

You know how determined those Democrats are, when they decide to do something! :sarcasm:

[LWolf]

9. Kucinich on genetically engineered food:

Genetically engineered food (GEF) poses grave risks, and much serious research into the potential harms is needed. The dominant voices in the public debate over genetically engineered food have been those of the agri-business and biotechnology industries. These multinational companies have invested millions of dollars into the research and development of GEF. They claim that genetically engineered food is safe and that it is associated with good environmental practices. Of course, there is a huge conflict of interest when the leading authorities on GEF are the same industries that hope to profit by them.

Genetically engineered food is produced with the use of bacteria and "gene guns" along with other unnatural techniques to aggressively insert foreign genetic material into a plant or animal. Genetic engineers also use viruses and genes that are resistant to antibiotics in order to activate these foreign genes.

These methods lead to questions about the introduction of allergens and toxins into the food, the reduction of nutritional value of the food, and how consuming the food might lead to resistance to antibiotics. Environmental concerns also arise. The biggest push in GEF has been for creating plants that are resistant to herbicides and pesticides. Crops that encourage the increased use of pesticides that already have a negative impact on our eco-systems are a step in the wrong direction. Despite the obvious concerns that these practices cause, the FDA has maintained since 1992 that genetically engineered food is "substantially equivalent" to conventional food.

Proponents of genetically engineered food have said that this technology will end world hunger because increased crop yields will create more food. This simplistic argument does not take into account the true causes of hunger. In the past we have consistently produced more than enough food to feed the people of the world. The United Nations has predicted that growth in agriculture will continue to exceed population growth. The real cause of world hunger is not a shortage of food, but poverty. Food is not distributed well enough to the areas that need it, and hungry people are too poor to buy that which is available, or they lack the land and resources to grow it for themselves.

People must have a right to select foods for themselves and their families that are proven to be safe and environmentally friendly. In Congress, I have introduced legislation in support of regulating genetically engineered food. I have argued for scientifically valid testing of the safety of all GEF. I have opposed the introduction of genetically engineered fish, because the ecological effect was not adequately considered. I have worked to empower farmers against the GEF industry. I have worked to require that all foods containing GEF be labeled as such.

To accomplish these goals, we should create a fund, financed by genetically engineered food corporations, for farmers who incur losses caused by GEF. We should fund research institutions that help family farmers make the transition to profitable and sustainable agriculture. We should also provide funding to assist independent farmers in qualifying for organic certification.

http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/issues/geneticallyfood.php

[Nutmegger]

10. Down with GE foods!

R&K.

Thank you Catchwave! :hi:

[okamichan13]

11. Great to see this

I've been hoping Edwards would come out and say this for a while.

[hvn_nbr_2]

12. Well, now we know how low Chimpie has to go before they oppose him.

89% of the American public feels the Federal Government should require the labeling of genetically engineered foods. Only 10% felt that labeling should not be required.

89% want it but we can't get it. I guess Chimpie has to go below 10% approval before Congress will stop giving him whatever he wants and impeach him.

[druidity33]

13. given that

"Presidential candidate Representative Dennis Kucinich also supports labeling of genetically engineered foods and has lead this effort in Congress for several years."

you could've mentioned him in the subject line.

:shrug: