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| '''Type:''' Resolution
| | == It was frightening! Thanks == |
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| '''Status:''' Adopted on 12/18/00
| | We were on a confrerence, I imagine I ve heard of this web! genial monograph equably done! |
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| '''Source File:''' http://www.organicconsumers.org/ge/sfgefreeres.cfm
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| '''Description:'''
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| The San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a
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| resolution calling for environmental and health protections from genetically
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| engineered (GE) foods. Supervisor Gavin Newsom introduced the resolution.
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| The resolution comes after a massive food recall of corn products containing
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| StarLink, a genetically engineered corn only allowed for animal feed, when
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| it was found in a range of food products. An advisory panel to the
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| Environmental Protection Agency recently ruled that StarLink corn has the
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| potential to cause food allergies. In passing the resolution, San Francisco
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| joined with a growing number of municipalities from across the country in
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| demanding protection from this dangerous new food technology.
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| "Because our federal agencies that are regulating genetically engineered
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| foods have failed the American public, it is critical that cities across the
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| country take a strong stance on this issue and demand adequate health and
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| environmental standards for these novel foods," said Rebecca Spector of the
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| Center for Food Safety. "San Francisco has taken this stance today, and has
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| said enough, is enough."
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| The resolution calls on FDA to label genetically engineered foods and
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| institute a moratorium on GE foods. The resolution also calls on food
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| companies, like Kellogg's and Campbell's, which have stopped using GE
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| ingredients in their products in Europe, to do the same in the United
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| States.
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| "Kellogg's and many food companies have stopped using genetically engineered
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| ingredients in Europe, but continue to use these experimental foods in the
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| U.S.," said Jeanne Merrill of Greenpeace. "Today San Francisco told
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| Kellogg's and others to end their double-standard."
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| Genetic engineering of crops fundamentally alters nature by crossing natural
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| species barriers, and inserting virus, bacteria and even insect genes into
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| plants-something traditional breeders can never do. Once these man-made
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| organisms are released into the environment and the food chain they can
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| never be recalled. Currently, approximately 69 million acres of GE crops are
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| grown in the United States- primarily corn, soy, canola and cotton. Over
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| 60% of processed foods on our grocery shelves now contain GE ingredients.
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| "Genetically engineered ingredients are in everything from our cereals to
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| our chocolates without even a label to tell us we are eating experimental
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| foods," said Simon Harris of the Organic Consumers Association. "That's
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| why we need local government to stand up and demand consumer protection."
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| Among those who support the resolution is head chef of Millennium
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| restaurant, Eric Tucker. "Without labeling in this country, the burden of
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| finding non-GE foods falls on responsible chefs and food providers," said
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| Tucker. "The responsibility should be with the government and the biotech
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| industry to provide this information."
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| Genetic engineering of plant life creates for the first time living
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| pollution, bringing known and unknown risks to the environment and public
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| health. Herbicide resistant crops can create superweeds and increase
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| herbicide use. GE foods may also create new food allergies and increased
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| levels of toxins in food. Medical experts warn that some antibiotics could
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| become useless from the use of antibiotic resistance genes in creating GE
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| crops. Furthermore, genetically engineered corn and soy with the Bacillus
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| thurigienisis (Bt) toxin threatens insect resistance to Bt, a fundamental
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| tool for organic farmers.
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