GENETICALLY ALTERED FOODS

Mini-Project #4

Unlike traditional breeding, genetic engineering (GE) creates new life forms that would never occur in nature, creating new and unpredictable health and environmental risks. To create GE crops, genes form bacteria, viruses, plants, animals, and even humans, have already been inserted into our common food crops, like corn, soy and canola.

This project is to identify foods currently being sold in neighboring stores that contain ingredients on the GE list. Currently there is no regulation or law in place that requires companies to label their food to indicate whether they are genetically engineered. Fortunately truefoodnow.org has made available a list that does indicate these companies, and I quote: "We compiled the list primarily from direct communications with food producers. In some cases, we received company policy statements from consumers who passed these on to us. In addition to written statements, we spoke to many company representatives to clarify or assess their position."

The following list shows companies with products that have confirmed that their products may have or are likely to be made with GE ingredients, or have not denied using GE foods when given the opportunity to do so. There are many more but I am partial to the snack list since I have children.

CONTAINS GENETICALLY ENGINEERED INGREDIENTS

Act II Microwave Popcorn(ConAgra)

Butter Extreme Butter Corn on the Cob Frito-Lay*(PepsiCo)

Lays Potato Chips(all varieties)

Ruffles Potato Chips(all)

Doritos Corn Chips(all)

Tostitos Corn Chips(all)

Fritos Corn Chips(all)

Cheetos(all)

Rold Gold Pretzels(all)

Cracker Jack Popcorn

Healthy Choice Microwave Popcorn(ConAgra)

Organic Corn(soy/canola oils)

Mothers Corn Cakes(Quaker) butter pop

Orville Redenbacher Microwave Popcorn(ConAgra) Original Homestyle Butter Smart Pop and Pour Over

Orville Redenbacher Popcorn Cakes Chocolate Caramel

Orville Redenbacher Mini Popcorn Cakes Butter Peanut Caramel Chocolate Peanut

Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn(Betty Crocker/General Mills) Natural Homestyle Jumbo Pop Extra Butter Light 94% Fat Free Butter

Pringles(Procter & Gamble) Original Low Fat Pizza-licious Sour Cream & Onion Salt & Vinegar Cheezeums

Quaker Rice Cakes Peanut Butter Chocolate Crunch Cinnamon Streusel Mini Chocolate Ranch Sour Cream & Onion Apple Cinnamon Caramel Corn
Quaker Corn Cakes White Cheddar, Caramel Corn,Strawberry Crunch and Caramel Chocolate Chip

*Frito has informed its corn and potato suppliers that the company wishes to avoid GE crops, but acknowledges that canola or other oils and ingredients in its products may be from GE sources.

CHECK OUT WHAT'S COMING DOWN THE PIPE!

GE Sugar? Not So Sweet---- BIOTECH TAKES AIM AT OUR SUGAR!!!

Sadly, biotech companies want to take the sweets we know and love away from us.
Sugar in our Valentine’s candy (and our cereal, granola bars, crackers, bread – anything that contains sugar) comes from several sources, including sugar beets. In fact, about half of the sugar used in the U.S. is beet sugar (the other half is cane sugar). In the next few weeks, sugar beet seed farmers throughout the U.S. will be considering what type of sugar beets to plant, and food companies will have to decide what types of sugar they will accept.

A new option available this year is Monsanto’s Roundup Ready sugar beet, genetically engineered to survive direct application of the weed killer, Roundup. At the request of Monsanto, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency increased the allowable amount of glyphosate residues on sugar beetroots by a whopping 5000%. Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Roundup, sugar is extracted from the beet’s root. The inevitable result is more glyphosate pesticide in our sugar. This is not good news for those who want to enjoy their sweet treats without the threat of ingesting toxic weed killer.

In 2001, Hershey’s, M&M Mars, and American Crystal Sugar told consumers they would not use genetically engineered sugar. But now that sugar beets are close to being planted commercially, they have made no such assurances.
Tell Hershey’s, Mars, and American Crystal to show us the love, and keep our sweets GE-Free!

...aaaand

The foods listed below are currently being tested by the biotech industry in field trials:

apples cherries cranberries grapefruit kiwi melons papaya pears persimmons pineapple plum strawberries