Landmark Lawsuit on Genetically Engineered Foods- (kept PRIVATE! was not made public!)

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Landmark Lawsuit Challenges FDA Policy on Genetically Engineered Foods

 

Scientists,

Health Professionals, Religious Leaders and Chefs Join as Plaintiffs to

Demand Adequate Safety Testing and Mandatory Labeling

Allege Policy Is Scientifically Unsound and Ignores Significant

Health Risks

Also Allege Violations of Consumer Rights and Religious Freedom

Washington D.C.-- An

unprecedented coalition of scientists, religious leaders, health

professionals, consumers and chefs filed suit today against the U.S.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to obtain mandatory safety testing

and labeling of all genetically engineered foods.

The suit, filed in Federal District Court, alleges

that current FDA policy, which permits such altered foods to be

marketed without any testing and without labels, violates the agency's

statutory mandate to protect public health and provide consumers with

relevant information about the foods they eat. The suit also alleges

that the policy is a violation of religious freedom. The suit has been

coordinated by the Alliance for Bio-Integrity, with key

collaboration from the International Center for Technology

Assessment (CTA).

Both are nonprofit organizations dedicated to advancing human and

environmental health through sustainable agriculture and safe

technologies.

A press conference announcing the suit will be held

Wednesday, May 27 at 9:45 A.M. at the National Press Club, Zenger Room,

14th and F Street, N.W., Washington D.C. Several of the plaintiffs will

be speaking and a copy of the complaint and other relevant materials

will be available.

In the suit, plaintiffs challenge the marketing of 33

different genetically engineered whole foods which are currently being

sold without labeling or adequate safety testing. These include

potatoes, tomatoes, soy, corn, squash and many other fruits and

vegetables to which a variety of new genes from different species have

been added. These genetically engineered whole foods are also used as

ingredients in processed foods, and have been reported to be present in

a number of mass-consumed food products from major soy-based baby

formulas to some of the most popular corn chip brands. Because of

FDA & sup1;s failure to require labeling, millions of American

infants, children and adults are consuming genetically engineered food

products each day without their knowledge.

A central issue in the case involves the

consumer & sup1;s right to know about the new genetic material being

engineered into their food. Labeling and testing are also vital given

the health risks that scientists have associated with gene-altered

foods. The most pressing health concern involves the impact of

inserting novel genes into fruits, vegetables and other food products.

With each gene insertion there is the possibility that a nontoxic

element in the food could become toxic and create a human health

hazard. This remains the most probable explanation for the dozens of

deaths and hundreds of serious illness caused by the genetically

engineered food supplement L-tryptophan several years ago.

Food allergies are another major health concern with

genetically engineered foods. Those with food allergies will have no

way of knowing what foods to avoid. The problem of food allergies was

outlined in a recent study reported in the New England Journal of

Medicine. In the study a gene from a Brazil nut was introduced into a

soybean. The genetically engineered soybean was then tested on people

who were allergic to the nuts, and they had an allergic reaction to the

engineered soybeans but not the natural variety. Health professionals

are also concerned that the mass consumption of genetically engineered

foods could make treating infections more difficult in that some

genetically modified foods contain antibiotic resistant genes.

In addition to health concerns, millions of Americans

feel obligated to refrain from some or all genetically engineered foods

based on their ethical and religious principles. Many Jews and Muslims

need to avoid foods with substances from specific animals, while devout

vegetarians want to avoid substances from any animal. Additionally, a

considerable portion of the population is religiously motivated to

avoid all genetically engineered foods in order to separate themselves

from an enterprise they view as (a) based on anti-theistic assumptions

and (b) carried out in a way that is irresponsibly and arrogantly

disrupting the integrity of God's creation. Virtually all the religious

plaintiffs share this motivation, even those who also must avoid foods

with genes from particular species. The religious plaintiffs allege

that by refusing to label, the FDA is significantly infringing their

free exercise of religion as guaranteed by the Constitution and the

Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA).

Commenting on today & sup1;s filing, Steven M.

Druker, president of the Alliance for Bio-Integrity stated,

& sup3;This suit sends a clear message that government policy on

genetically engineered food poses a real threat to the public and is

unsound from the standpoints of both science and religion. Gene-altered

foods have not been proven safe through standard tests. Rather, the FDA

accepts them on the basis of unsubstantiated assumptions. Eminent

scientists say these assumptions are contrary to fact; religious

leaders say they are at odds with a God-centered world-view. & sup2;

Dr. Philip Regal, a professor at the University of

Minnesota and an internationally recognized plant expert stated,

& sup3;Over the last fifteen years, I and other scientists have put

the FDA on notice about the potential dangers of genetically engineered

foods. Instead of responsible regulation we have seen bureaucratic

bungling and obfuscation that have left public health and the

environment at risk. & sup2;

& sup3;The FDA has placed the interest of a

handful of biotechnology companies ahead of their responsibility to

protect public health, & sup2; stated Andrew Kimbrell, Executive of the International Center for Technology Assessment (CTA).

& sup3;By failing to require testing and labeling of genetically

engineered foods, the agency has made consumers unknowing guinea pigs

for potentially harmful, unregulated food substances. & sup2;

Rick Moonen, nationally recognized chef and partner

of Oceana and Molyvos restaurants in New York City stated,

& sup3;People come to Oceana because they trust me. They know that

I & sup1;m going to source out the highest quality ingredients in the

market for their dining experience. By not requiring mandatory labeling

and safety testing of all genetically engineered foods, the government

is taking away my ability to assure customers of the purity of the

foods they eat at my restaurants. & sup2;

Rabbi Harold White, Director of Jewish Chaplaincy and

Lecturer in Theology at Georgetown University, urges: "We must resist

the irresponsible and irreversible sundering of the natural

cross-breeding barriers through which genes from bacteria and animals

are being permanently fused into every cell of our grains, fruits and

vegetables in ignorance of the full consequences. Since the dawn of

life on earth, Divine intelligence has systematically prevented such

combinations. Limited human intelligence should not rush to make them

commonplace."

 

"Genetically Engineered Food -

Safety Problems"

Published by PSRAST

 

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