Frankenfood Sugar Beets

[Persephone]

This message is from my co-op - Coopportunity, Santa Monica CA To sign an on-line petition against GE sugar beets, go to

Genetically Engineered Sugar Beets

Iowa City, Iowa (April 29, 2008) ? With planting season underway in many parts of the nation, National Cooperative Grocers Association (NCGA) wants consumers to know that a recent deregulation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will enable farms to plant potentially harmful, genetically engineered (GE) sugar beet seeds.

GE sugar beets ? a core ingredient for refined sugar and sweeteners ? are likely to contaminate the nation?s non-GE sugar beet supply as well as have a negative impact on consumers, the environment and family farmers. Sugar beets account for more than half of the nation?s sugar production, with the balance produced from sugar cane. The addition of GE sugar will mean the majority of sweeteners in the United States will be GE products. High-fructose corn syrup, typically made with GE corn, is the leading sweetener with sugar a not-too-distant second.

GE Sugar Beet Seeds High in Herbicide ? Levels GE foods have been genetically altered by scientists with the goal of improving the food in some way. Common GE goals include increased yields, spoilage retardation and pest and pesticide/herbicide resistance. Pesticide/herbicide resistance means that the plants can withstand the use of more pesticides/herbicides. In 2005, the USDA began allowing the production of and use of ?Round-up ready? sugar beets, genetically modified to resist Monsanto?s herbicide Round-up. Americans consume 22 tons of refined sugar and corn sweeteners annually ? found in foods ranging from sodas to candy bars to ketchups to peanut butter and cereals. According to the Center for Food Safety, sugars produced by Roundup Ready beets have greatly elevated levels of the herbicide glyphosphate.

A Risk to the Entire Sugar Supply ? ?Unfortunately, a producer knowingly sowing GE sugar beet seeds is only part of the problem,? Robynn Shrader, chief executive officer for NCGA. ?There?s also the concern with cross-contamination.? When planting sugar beets, farmers wind-pollinate the seeds, which will allow for the inevitable cross-pollinatation between GE and non-GE beet crops. ?That means traditional farmers would not be able to ensure the integrity of their crops,? said Shrader ?For organic farmers, it could mean devastation for their crops and for their way of life.?

Consumers Can Act ?With the USDA deregulation, much of the nation?s sugar and sweetener supply will be derived in part from GE sources that can be harmful for consumers,? said Shrader. ?And, because the USDA does not require manufacturers to label their foods as containing GE sugar, individuals will have no idea what type of sugar they are consuming.? ?Enabling the production of GE beet sugar is especially frustrating for consumers, seeking truly natural, non-GE foods,? she added. ?We invite concerned consumers to learn more about the issue and to voice their opposition to GE sugars.? In 2001, sugar producers and providers such as American Crystal Sugar, M&M Mars, and Hershey?s announced they would not allow GE sugar into their supplies. Now, as GE sugar indeed begins commercial production, these and other organizations have not made assurances.

Go to

sign petition.

Persephone

[Billy]

It is totally unacceptable that foods aren't labeled GMO or with their country of origin. President Monkey Smirk doesn't even want more meat inspections for "Mad Cow Disease" (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy), inspections that meat packers themselves want to pay for.

Cargill, who is so good at socializing costs and privatizing profits, saw a 75% increase in forth quarter earnings under President Monkey Smirk. percent increase in earnings from foods that make us sick. Now that is really sick. Meanwhile the rest of us, especially the poorer among us, get sicker from the faux food we eat. We are over fed and under nurished. If we had a real government that cared for us, they would tell us to stop eating processed foods, and cut way back on meat, not just for our health but for the health of the planet as well. See video by Mark Bittman the past forty years, the population of the planet has doubled. In the next forty years, it will increase by half. Expecting science to magically fix this reality, resigning yourself to the raptures, or imposing our will, militarily, on the rest of the world aren't solutions. It's past time to talk like adults.

One more video, sorry. The title is a little over the top but it presents the case for action on "Global Warming".

I signed the petition:-)

[Steve Young]

[...]

really? they still think poly unsaturated fats are good for us, rather than the poison they are. But then there's more money in treating cancer than heart disease. The trick for the sickness industry is keeping us well enough to work, but sick enough we constantly need/pay them. The sicker it is, the bigger their take. Big pharma needs to grow their businesses too :( Too many vested interests in cahoots to trust any one in the chain.

For the health advantage switch to grass fed animals, then otherwise, substantially reduce omega6 PUFAs. Eliminate *all* deep fried foods, those light oils are better spent in diesel engines. A much better choice for our good health and the planet IMHO.

Steve Young

[Billy]

Hallelujah and amen, brother, hallelujah and amen.

[Persephone]

[...]

S.Korea has for years refused to buy our meat because they fear MC Disease. However, under pressure from U.S., the new Prime Minister caved (his ratings went into the toilet.

The S. Koreans are continuing to demonstrate in the streets, some verging on violence. They have fallen for some weird myths, true, but basically they have a perfect right to keep out what they deem unacceptable.

From the reports I heard, the U.S. is standing firm, so the S.Korean Prime Minister has had to backtrack from the position he took under pressure from his people, and has had to agree to take the meat -- with some modifications, not sure what.

Persephone

[Persephone]

[...]

S.Korea has for years refused to buy our meat because they fear MC Disease. However, under pressure from U.S., the new Prime Minister caved (his ratings went into the toilet.

The S. Koreans are continuing to demonstrate in the streets, some verging on violence. They have fallen for some weird myths, true, but basically they have a perfect right to keep out what they deem unacceptable.

From the reports I heard, the U.S. is standing firm, so the S.Korean Prime Minister has had to backtrack from the position he took under pressure from his people, and has had to agree to take the meat -- with some modifications, not sure what.

Persephone