Hi all, When I used the OCA website to take action on this, I got a message back suggesting that my previous message was filtered out as spam. I was given a link to another site to comment. It restricts comments to 1000 characters.
I did not let diversion to another site discourage me from weighing in on this. Link to company site: http://www.econsumeraffairs.com/mmm/contactus.htm My (shortened to 1000 characters) comments as submitted: James Jenness Paul S. Michaels Richard H. Lenny I thank American Crystal its past support for sugar beet farmers not converting to genetically engineered sugar beets. Recent comments suggest that American Crystal now supports this transition. As I cannot rely on packaging labels to indicate which products contain genetically engineered ingredients and which do not, I will purchase products from companies publicly stating they do not use genetically engineered ingredients and/or products that are USDA certified organic. Numerous factors contribute to my decision. Unfortunately, space limitations of this website constrain me from fully stating them. In short, these factors include past actions and misrepresentations from the bio tech industry regarding genetically modified foods, and documented increased use of pesticides on Roundup Ready crops such as sugar beets due to herbicide-resistance. 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. Thank you, Kathy Luz Herrera 116 Utica St. Ithaca, NY 14850 >Date: Fri, 23 May 2008 14:35:46 -0400 >From: "Kate Richard" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: [SustainableTompkins] ALERT: GENETICALLY ENGINEERED SUGAR TO > HIT STORES IN 2008 >To: "Sustainable Tompkins County listserv" > <[email protected]>, "Steve Richard" > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "MOM" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "DAD" > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > >Thought you all might want to know about this! ~Kate > > > >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. >Learn more and take action here: >www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_7031.cfm >[http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001wA96-eQGF63g5oS1DEycCCOSfA1eUhGHQSTRy66Y5ABKar456mw73qIgH3og_Ppy5hqHDu1BrM5_sprIhlz8elE7PFVDLiPprNW0Hv1MjzJdLRHFK4zmP_nVVrdm0_xAd77piv3mBhJaeW2Z2RJs8kWk3upZcH8i] > >Kate Richard >EcoProperties Group >Energy Efficiency ~ Sustainable Practices ~ Health & WellbeingCell: >607.592.1947Office: 607.277.1500 x 239 >Fax: 607.697.0404 >IM: MyRealtorKate >RE/MAX In Motion >531 Esty Street >Ithaca, NY 14850 > >NYS Licensed Real Estate SalespersonEcoBroker Certified? _______________________________________________ For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, please visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/ RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for: [email protected] http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org
