Greenpeace Urges Yes on 27 - Label Genetically Engineered
(GE) Food
Greenpeace supports Oregon consumers’
right to know if their food has been genetically engineered,
and offers these comments:
Labeling GE food does not increase prices:
In more than 25 countries, labels are currently required on GE foods.
In these countries, when labeling was proposed, the biotech industry
threatened that labeling would be enormously costly, and taxes and
food costs would increase. In fact, no country has seen
price increases or higher taxes from GE food labeling.
One of England’s largest supermarket chains stated that GE
food labeling required no price increases. Every supermarket in
Europe, and many elsewhere, have conformed to labeling laws, and
none has raised prices. Oregon citizens should not be bullied by
industry’s empty threats.
Doctors warn that GE foods could harm our
health: The New England Journal of Medicine warned that
GE foods could cause new allergies. The leading doctors’ organization
in England has stated that a ban on GE foods should be considered
if they are unlabeled. A statement by over 2,000 doctors called
the use of antibiotic genes in GE foods “a danger to health
that can be avoided.”
Infants and children are most at risk:
A Harvard University pediatrician stated, “I especially worry
about the safety of [GE] foods when it comes to children.”
A leading scientific society has noted that infants could be especially
at risk for food allergies from GE foods. These doctors say GE foods
are risky for children.
Genetically engineered food harms the environment:
Genetic engineering means more pesticides on our food and in the
environment. Farmers who grow natural and organic food can lose
their harvest when GE crops contaminate their fields. Labels on
GE food would protect farmers and consumers who want the right to
choose safe, natural non-GE food.
For a list of worldwide endorsers of Oregon Measure
27, see www.greenpeaceusa.org/oregon
Greenpeace USA
Charles Margulis, GE Campaigner
|
