Generation Monsanto (GM)--Why We Need Labels on GM Foods

Gen-M, the first Monsanto Generation of humans force-fed genetically
modified foods hasn't reached reproductive age yet (they were born in
the
late 1990s). But, if a critical mass of animal feeding studies are any
indication, the millennial generation, reared on Food Inc.'s unlabeled
"Frankenfoods" can look forward to a long-term epidemic of cancer, food
allergies, learning disabilities, sterility, and birth defects.

Corn (85% of U.S. production is GM), soy (91% GM), cotton (88% GM),
canola
(85% GM) and sugar beets (95% GM) are all genetically engineered by
Monsanto
to withstand massive doses of the company's glyphosate herbicide
RoundUp, or
else to exude their own pesticide, Bacillus Thuriengensis (Bt). RoundUp,
the
favorite weedkiller poison of non-organic farmers and gardeners, causes
brain, intestinal and heart defects in fetuses. And scientists warn that
RoundUp, the most extensively used herbicide in the history of
agriculture,
"may have dire consequences for agriculture such as rendering soils
infertile, crops non-productive, and plants less nutritious." In
addition,
hundreds of thousands of US dairy cows are injected with genetically
engineered Bovine Growth Hormone (developed by Monsanto) in spite of
studies
linking BGH with cancer, and longstanding bans on the drug in the EU,
Japan,
Canada, and other industrialized nations.

With genetically modified foods and crops threatening public health and
the
environment, not to mention the next generation's reproductive capacity,
why
isn't there a massive consumer outcry to restrain Monsanto's biotech
bullying and ban genetically engineered foods and agriculture?

The answer is disturbingly simple. Collusion between Monsanto and
elected
public officials (including the current Obama Administration) has
obscured
the fact that almost all non-organic foods in the US contain GMOs.
Despite
poll after poll indicating that 85-95% of US consumers want mandatory
labels
on foods containing GMOs, Congress has heretofore listened to Monsanto
and
corporate agribusiness, rather than their own constituents. In the
European
Union, Japan, or South Korea, where GM foods must be labeled, there are
no
GM foods on grocery story shelves (and little or none served in
restaurants), since most consumers would not buy them and a significant
number would complain if they saw GMO labels on products. Consequently
there
are very few GM crops being cultivated in the EU (mainly a small amount
of
corn in Spain for animal feed).

Most Americans simply do not understand that 80% of non-organic
supermarket
processed foods (basically every product containing soy, corn, canola,
cottonseed oil, or sugar beet derivatives) are contaminated with GMOs.
While
nearly everyone in North America has eaten genetically modified foods,
only
26% believe that they have.

People don't think they're eating genetically modified foods because
they
have no way of knowing whether they are or not. Genetically modified
foods
aren't labeled.

If we're going to save this generation from reproductive dysfunction and
save our farmland from the ravages of RoundUp, we need to stop Monsanto.

The first step is to protect consumers' right to know whether their food
is
genetically modified.

We need genetically modified food labeled now!

Write your Congresspersons and 2010 candidates for the House and Senate.
Tell them to support mandatory labeling of all genetically modified
foods.

Take Action: https://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_21060.cfm