11/02 UPDATE: When you look at the small label placed on a piece of fruit or vegetable: If it starts with the number 9 and has 5 digits, it is organic. If it starts with 8 and has 5 digits, it may be genetically modified. Four digit numbers starting with 4 or 3 are conventionally-grown 7/3/02 From The Campaign www.thecampaign.org The European Parliament has approved tough new labeling requirements for genetically engineered foods! The threshold for labeling products as genetically engineered has been reduced from 1 percent to 0.5 percent. (For more information, see press release below) At the World Conference on Breast Cancer (1999), it was stated that Monsanto (makers of bovine growth hormone and a whole bunch of other chemicals including something called Roundup, has cornered the market on soybeans. From a newsletter called Rachel's Environment & Health Weekly: Monsanto has patented a genetically engineered (GE) potato called New Leaf Superior (a thin-skinned white potato). It includes a gene for a bacteria(Bt) that kills the Colorado potato beetle. The potato is a registered pesticide with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It is believed by EPA that this potato is reasonable safe for humans to eat. It seems mice have not been visible harmed by eating pure Bt. As the New York Times article stated, "Some genetists believe..inserting foreign genes into plants may cause subtle changes that are difficult to recognize." FDA cannot regulate this because it is a registered pesticide, it comes under the jurisdiction of EPA. It is expected that insects will develop a resistance to this Bt now continually in use in the potato crop itself. The mechanism of resistance is well documented since over 500 insects have become resistant to one pesticide or another since 1945. Bt has been used by organic farmers to fight beetles. It is used as a last resort and sparingly. It is possible that this development by Monsanto may affect the integrity of organic farming of potatoes. Monsanto is also in the process, according to reports given at the conference and referred to in this article, of creating seeds that will produce crops that do not reproduce from the next generation's seeds. Europe and Canada have resisted buying food produced by GE/GM methods. In the U.S. this food may already be in your supermarket. Ask the manager. Ask for organic foods in your local supermarket. Use of GM crops,pesticide usuage and yields GM Crops INCREASE Pesticide Use Ann Fonfa's letter to FDA re Guidance for Industry... on Genetically Modified Foods a press conference Sri Lanka Completely Bans GE Foods UN Task Force Guidelines for Biotech Food New York Times, 1/04 US Residents Know Little About GE Foods A study from Journal of Medicinal Food Vol 1, no.4, 1999 Biotech Plants Pass Toxicity to Insects Correspondence 1/02 English Nature, 1/02 The Guardian, 5/14/02 The Guardian 7/03 Study by Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, 5/02 32 Food Producers in China are GM-Free Now 7/03/02 The Greens/European Free Alliance Institute of Science in Society (UK) 7/02 More on this Issue-Questions for Researchers Report 10/02 Detection/Decay Bt Endotoxin in Soil: GM Maize Rats Fed Genetically-engineered Corn -Kidney Troubles Two Studies Raise Concern on GE Foods Indian subsidiary of Monsanto & GM Eggplant From www.rawfoodsinfo.com Source: Biodemocracy Organic Bytes #17, 7/03 USA Today, 10/03 UK report, 10/03 Western Org of Resource Councils Press Release, 5/10/04 ISIS Press Release 05/12/06 Posted here 12/06 Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.