Dear Activists,
On September 18, 2000, Genetically Engineered Food Alert (GEFood Alert) announced that Taco Bell brand taco shells were contaminated with an illegal variety of genetically engineered corn, known as StarLink. StarLink, developed by the biotech giant Aventis, was approved for animal feed, but not for human consumption because of questions about its potential to cause allergic reactions.
Over 300 products have now been recalled from supermarket shelves and the StarLink scandal is still making headlines both in the US and overseas where other contaminated foods have also been found. Many American consumers are learning about GE foods for the first time and are clearly concerned by what they've been hearing. According to a recent Reuters poll, 1/3 of all Americans believe that farmers should not be allowed to plant GE crops.
On November 16-18, demonstrations will be taking place in 10 cities across the country to highlight the fact that StarLink may still be in our food supply and on our Thanksgiving tables. Activists will be holding media events outside supermarkets and shareholder meetings, distributing educational materials to consumers and also generating comments in opposition to the EPA's pending approval of StarLink for human consumption. In Europe, the coordinated efforts of the grassroots movement has forced food companies and supermarkets to remove GE ingredients from their food products and we hope these days of action will be the start of a similar movement here in the US.
We would like to encourage you to organize similar protests in the coming months to educate consumers about GE foods and pressure food companies to stop using GE ingredients.
On our website http://www.gefoodalert.org/pickup we have made materials available for you to download and use to help organize action in your community including postcards to send to the EPA, sample letters to the editor, supermarket leaflets and fact sheets on StarLink.
Let's send a message to the American public, the media and to politicians that this issue has now penetrated the nation and that people all across the country are voicing their opposition to genetically engineered foods.
Simon Harris
Organic Consumers Association and GE Food Alert
Simon@organicconsumers.org
415-643-9592
