ALERT:
GENETICALLY ENGINEERED SUGAR TO HIT STORES
IN 2008
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.
Take
action now to stop Genetically Engineered Sugar:
/articles/article_7031.cfm