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  • From: "Tradingpost" <tradingpost@lobo.net>
  • To: livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [Livingontheland] GENETICALLY ENGINEERED SUGAR TO HIT STORES IN 2008
  • Date: Mon, 26 May 2008 16:43:44 -0600


GENETICALLY ENGINEERED SUGAR TO HIT STORES IN 2008
www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_7031.cfm

The Organic Consumer Association announced a few weeks ago that several
leading U.S. sugar providers will be sourcing their sugar from genetically
engineered sugar beets (see below for full story). This sugar and products
containing genetically engineered sugar will not be labeled as such.

This is another reason not to buy processed foods and ready-made sweets (but
to make them yourself with sweeteners you know).

If you are purchasing ready-made sweets etc, choose those made from cane
sugar or the natural sweeteners

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.

Learn more and take action here:
www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_7031.cfm






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