original-ocaStop Genetically Engineered Sugar BeetsGENETICALLY ENGINEERED SUGAR TO HIT STORES IN 2008 (scroll to the bottom of this page to take action) Background Information: American Crystal, a large Wyoming-based sugar company, who ironically have launched an "organic" line of their sugar,and several other leading U.S. sugar providers have announced they will be sourcing their sugar from genetically engineered (GE) sugar beets beginning this year and arriving in stores in 2008. Like GE corn and GE soy, products containing GE sugar will not be labeled as such.
Since half of the granulated sugar in the U.S. comes from sugar beets, a move towards biotech beets marks a dramatic alteration of the U.S. food supply. These sugars, along with GE corn and soy, are found in many conventional food products, so consumers will be exposed to genetically engineered ingredients in just about every non-organic multiple-ingredient product they purchase.
The GE sugar beet is designed to withstand strong doses of Monsanto's controversial broad spectrum Roundup herbicide. Studies indicate farmers planting "Roundup Ready" corn and soy spray large amounts of the herbicide, contaminating both soil and water. Farmers planting GE sugar beets are told they may be able to apply the herbicide up to five times per year. Sugar beets are grown on 1.4 million acres by 12,000 farmers in the U.S. from Oregon to Minnesota.
Meanwhile candy companies like Hershey's are urging farmers not to plant GE sugar beets, noting that consumer surveys suggest resistance to the product. In addition the European Union has not approved GE sugar beets for human consumption.
September 12, 2007
Subject:
To: David Berg - President American Crystal Sugar Company Corporate Office 101 North 3rd Street Moorhead, MN 56560 (218) 236-4400 We, the undersigned, would like to thank American Crystal for historically encouraging related sugar beet farmers to avoid conversion to genetically engineered sugar beets. We are concerned about recent comments suggesting American Crystal is now supporting transition to biotech. As you know, roughly half of all granulated sugar in the U.S. is derived from sugar beets. Consumers leery of genetically engineered products cannot rely on packaging labels indicating which products contain genetically engineered ingredients and which do not. As a result, consumers will seek out products from companies that have publicly stated that they do not use genetically engineered ingredients and/or products that are USDA certified organic. One need only look at the history of genetically engineered crops to see that the promises made by the biotech industry starkly contrast the reality. -Roundup Ready corn and soy have led to an increase of herbicide use, not a decrease. -The increased use of Roundup on Roundup Ready crops has led to the advancement of superweeds that are resistant to this herbicide. -Consumer resistance to genetically engineered foods will affect profit margins of your company and its supporting farmers. -Studies consistently show that biotech cannot feed the world, despite what the American Crystal President recently stated and what biotech companies are advertising. The United Nation's own reports indicate that crop yields for organic operations that have been in place for 3 years or more are higher than biotech chemically intensive operations. Please reconsider your decision to support genetically engineered sugar beets and, in so doing, you will make American Crystal a food staple that consumers can confidently rely on in the long term. Thanks,
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