" Date: Wed, 1 Jan 1997 19:17:56 -0700 To: VEGLIFE@VTVM1.CC.VT.EDU
From: pmligotti@earthlink.net (Peter M. Ligotti) Subject: Consumer Alert
00101-B: AVOIDING DANGEROUS FOODS, Part 2 of 3
Consumer Alert 00101-B AVOIDING DANGEROUS FOODS,
Part 2 of 3
ELIMINATING FRANKENFOODS: WHAT CAN I DO?
1. Learn all you can about the dangers of genetically engineered foods.
2. Learn how to shop to avoid these foods. Boycott companies using these
foods.
3. Tell all your friends, family, and loved ones about this problem, both
on-line and off-line. Your job is not done until they change their eating
habits and they teach their loved one's to do the same.
4. Start or join consumer groups to label and ban genetically engineered
foods.
5. Send letters to your political leaders and representatives.
6. Write and send letters to the media, writers, editors, networkers.
7. Forward this communication to influential people all over the world.
8. Take a leadership role. Contact the sources at the end of part three
of this communication.
9. Request parts one and three of this three-part communication from your
Leader, who should be listed at the end of this section.
HOW TO SHOP TO AVOID GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOODS:
FOODS TO AVOID OR BOYCOTT:
SPECIFIC BRAND NAME PRODUCTS TO BOYCOTT:
THESE COMPANIES USE GENETICALLY ENGINEERED INGREDIENTS IN SOME OR ALL OF
THEIR PRODUCTS: Coca Cola (corn syrup and/or Aspartame), Fritos (corn),
Green Giant Harvest Burgers (soy), McDonald's French Fries (potatoes),
Nestle's chocolates (soy), Karo Corn Syrup (corn), NutraSweet (Aspartame),
Kraft Salad Dressings (canola oil), Fleishmann's margarine (soy), Similac
Infant Formula (soy), Land o Lakes butter (rBGH), Cabot Creamery Butter
(rBGH)
AVOID ALL OTHER NON-CERTIFIED ORGANIC TOMATOES, POTATOES, CORN, SOY, CANOLA
OIL, COTTON SEED OIL, AND YELLOW CROOK-NECK SQUASH:
TOMATOES: Genetically engineered with bacteria-derived kanamycin resistance
genes, Antisense backwards DNA, antibiotic marker genes, viruses, and DNA
of flounder and North Atlantic shellfish.
POTATOES: Genetically engineered with wax moth insect DNA; genetically
engineered to produce its own internal pesticide with DNA of bacillus thuringiensis
bacteria.
CORN: Genetically engineered to tolerate great quantities of the chemical
pesticide glufosinate, and genetically engineered with a virus and the
DNA of the bacterium bacillus thuringiensis.
SOY: Genetically engineered and DNA-altered by Monsanto with bacteria,
and capable of tolerating heavy doses of Monsanto's Roundup brand chemical
pesticide (glyphosate).
YELLOW CROOK NECK SQUASH: Gene-spliced with an two experimental viruses
and arbitrary marker genes.
CANOLA OIL: Genetically engineered and DNA-altered with California bay
turnip and various viruses and bacterium in order to produce unusually
high quantities of lauric acid.
COTTON SEED OIL: Genetically engineered and DNA-altered with Arabidopsis
bacterium, and viruses to be able to withstand large applications of the
chemical pesticide bromoxynil.
AVOID ALL PRODUCTS DERIVED FROM THE ABOVE NON-ORGANIC ITEMS As of the beginning
of 1997, these products will have been genetically engineered and on the
market as a percentage of the total conventional food supply. Since they
are sold unlabeled in the conventional market, there is no way to tell
specifically which tomatoes, potatoes, corn, etc. have been actually genetically
engineered. If you live in a nation which may receive imports from the
U.S. and Canada, you should also avoid these non-organic foods as a safety
precaution. Your own nation or another exporting to yours may be doing
genetic engineering. Eat only organic food if possible. Even if you buy
seeds to grow your own food, buy only organic seeds.
AVOID EATING IN NON-ORGANIC RESTAURANTS Unless the restaurant management
makes it clear in writing that they are committed to using only non- genetically
engineered foods and products, avoid eating out as much as possible. Since
genetically engineered foods are not labeled, they also have no idea which
of their tomato, potato, corn, soy, canola, cotton oil, yellow-crook-neck
squash products may be genetically engineered.
READ LABELS CAREFULLY: BE CAREFUL WITH ALL PROCESSED FOODS WATCH OUT FOR
CONVENTIONAL, NON-ORGANIC CORN AND SOY, BECAUSE THEY ARE IN SO MANY PRODUCTS:
Avoid corn syrup, fructose, and fructose corn syrup: in almost all sodas
(even health food brands), in almost all sweet products; yogurt, and aspirin
Avoid corn oil, corn starch, corn meal, baking soda, baking powder, glycose
syrup; Avoid soy; soy flour in baked goods; pizza, cookies, cakes, pasta;
fillers in meat products, (for example Big Macs) vegetarian meat substitutes,
(for example tofu, tofu burgers, tofu hot dogs) soy milk, infant formula,
baby foods; diet and protein shakes, protein bars; chocolate and candy
bars; margarine; ice cream; pet food; soy oil in salad dressings &
snack chips; soy sauce; lecithin and soy lecithin. In all, well over 30,000
products!
AVOID rBGH MILK & DAIRY PRODUCTS (apologies to strict vegans): Monsanto's
genetically engineered bovine growth hormone (rBGH), marketed through veterinarians
and injected into dairy cows, causes increased milk production and horrible
mastitis. These cows then require constant medical supervision and high
doses of antibiotics. Their milk contains unusually high levels of viral
pus. The cow's milk and dairy products made from this milk then also contains
rBGH, bovine growth hormone. This hormone increases cancer risk in human
beings.
EAT ONLY ORGANIC RENNETLESS CHEESE (apologies to strict vegans): Most non
- organic cheeses are made with a genetically engineered rennet called
chymosin.
AVOID DOUGH CONDITIONER: This is a code word for a combination of genetically
engineered enzymes and other components, found in cheaper breads and baked
goods.
OTHER GENETICALLY ENGINEERED ADDITIVES AND ENZYMES Avoid Amylase (used
in making bread, flour, whole wheat flour, cereals, starch), Catalase (used
in making soft drinks, egg whites, liquid whey) and Lactase.
FOODS TO FAVOR: BUY AND EAT ONLY CERTIFIED ORGANIC FOODS: Certified organic
tomatoes, potatoes, corn, soy, canola oil, cotton oil, and yellow-crook-neck
squash are safe. Many other genetically engineered products will be coming
to market in 1997 if the bio-tech industry has its way. By buying only
organic foods of every type, you will protect yourself and your family
from untested and mutated Frankenfoods. Almost everything that can be found
in your conventional food market is also produced by the organic food industry.
If you buy a few carefully chosen conventional foods, keep up-to-date on
which few conventional are safe through the websites and mailing lists
at the end of this consumer report.
MEAT AND POULTRY (apologies to vegetarians) Most livestock are being fed
genetically altered feed. The only safe beef and poultry will be those
fed only organically grown grain. Avoid commercially produced seafood.
Commercial pork has been genetically altered with DNA from human beings.
Great time to decide to be vegetarian.
FAVOR DAIRY PRODUCT FROM COMPANIES THAT DO NOT USE (rBGH) BOVINE GROWTH
HORMONE (apologies to strict vegans) Research and buy only from suppliers
that promise on the package or in other writing that their products are
rBGH-free. Be especially careful with butter. Buy only organic butter,
because even otherwise good companies buy cheap rBGH milk to make butter,
or they buy their butter (rBGH) from other companies.
DR. FRANKENFOOD WANTS TO DESTROY ORGANIC FOOD If Dr. Frankenfood was in
charge, he would create biological warfare crops that would destroy organic
foods, destroy the competition. Just as the evil genius would have hoped,
the USDA has allowed genetically altered foods into the conventional market
which threaten organic farmers. Scientists of virtually every persuasion
realize that Bt soy, corn and potatoes predictably will create Bt resistant
insects. Organic farmers use Bt as their main line of defense against insects.
Bt resistant insects could wipe out organic crops and organic farming.
Destroying the competition just makes good business sense, reasons Dr.
Frankenfood. As of now, certified organic food is still safe. But, just
like the evil genius might have planned, the bio-tech industry and the
USDA now are attempting to lower U.S. organic standards relative to the
rest of the world, and to allow genetically altered foods into the organic
market as a new category known as "synthetic organic." The U.S.
Organic Standards Board, comprised mainly of environmentally- conscious
and health-conscious organic producers and consumers, will make recommendations
to the USDA. Unfortunately, this board has no real power. They can only
recommend, and the USDA will decide independently whether genetic alteration
of the seeds will be relevant in deciding whether or not an organism can
be labeled "organic." Another point for Dr. Frankenfood.
CONTACT THE USDA: DEMAND AN IMMEDIATE END TO THIS OUTRAGE Soon, the USDA
will publish its new proposals and decisions on organic standards, and
any changes to the organic standards that they wish to make in the United
States. The USDA invites comments from the public on the issue regarding
organic standards. Let the USDA know that we will not tolerate this continuing
outrage. Keep up to date on this through the USDA website:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/
bbep/bp
CONSIDER STOCKING UP ON SAFE FOODS Frank Ford, in his book, "The Coming
Food Crisis," says that events are pointing to a food crisis of unbelievable
proportions. With genetic engineering of the food supply, only a relatively
small part of the total food supply can be known to be safe. Since 95%
of the food supply contains conventional corn or soy, the rules of supply
and demand show that there could possibly be a shortage of safe food over
the next several years. You may consider taking advice from Frank Ford's
book. He advises stocking up on organic or safe conventional dry foods
that are low in oil content--wheat, beans, lentils, grains, dried fruits.
If possible, stock enough for yourself, your family, and if possible your
friends to live comfortably for two or three years. Create local food co-ops
so you can pool resources and make large bulk orders, saving everyone money.
IMPORTANT:
Your Leader's e-mail address:
pmligotti@earthlink.net
Consumer Alert 00101-B AVOIDING DANGEROUS FOODS,
Part 2 of 3