Fw: Drugs in your cereal bowl? SEND ACTION~a23493u2788387

[Guest guest]

-

Union of Concerned Scientists Action Network

nwgott

Wednesday, December 15, 2004 2:01 PM

Drugs in your cereal bowl? SEND ACTION~a23493u2788387

 

 

 

 

Tell USDA to Protect the Food Supply from Contamination

 

 

Drugs hidden in your cereal bowl? Plastics in your taco shells? The

next wave of genetic engineering includes plants that have been altered to

produce pharmaceuticals and industrial chemicals. An ear of corn could actually

be a biological factory for substances never intended for the food supply. A new

UCS study finds that current production practices and federal regulations do not

protect against contamination from these crops. Add your name to our petition to

the U.S. Department of Agriculture to safeguard our food supply.

 

 

 

 

 

Read the Petition Letter:

 

 

 

Dear Secretary of Agriculture,

 

A Growing Concern, a new report from the Union of Concerned

Scientists (UCS), documents the challenge of protecting the U.S. food supply

from contamination by crops that have been genetically engineered (GE) to

produce drugs and industrial substances ( " pharma crops " ). Based on the report's

findings, we, the undersigned, urge the USDA to halt the outdoor production of

pharma crops immediately, until a system is put in place that can produce drugs

and industrial substances without placing our food system and food industry at

risk.

 

The heart of A Growing Concern is a technical report written by six

agricultural experts commissioned by UCS to analyze the feasibility of growing

corn and soybeans as pharma crops while ensuring virtually zero contamination of

the food supply. They concluded that the current production processes and

production areas for corn and soybeans cannot be used without substantial

modification to completely protect human food and animal feed supplies from

contamination. Because changes on this scale have yet to be implemented, UCS has

concluded that contamination of the food system by pharma crops may have already

occurred and may become more likely in the future.

 

The USDA should act immediately to ban the outdoor production of

pharma crops. We deserve the assurance that every possible measure has been

taken to keep unwanted drugs and chemicals out of our food.

 

Sincerely,

 

(your name and address will be inserted)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Instructions

Action Network members: to automatically sign your name to this

petition letter hit " reply " then " send " in your email program. To learn more

about this issue CLICK HERE

Tell A Friend

Tell friends or relatives about this important action.

The Whole Story

Food crops, primarily corn, are currently being genetically

engineered to produce pharmaceuticals and industrial chemicals. These crops are

referred to as " pharma " crops when they produce drugs, hormones, and other

therapeutic agents, and industrial crops when they produce compounds such as

plastics for use in industry.

 

While the commercial and health benefits of these crops could be

substantial, there are risks to the food supply and the environment associated

with their commercial production. Many pharma and industrial products could harm

humans, livestock, or wildlife if ingested in active forms. more...

 

Your Personal Account

Edit or update your personal information and profile.

Support Us!

The Union of Concerned Scientists relies on individuals like you to

support our research and advocacy. Join us to promote practical, science-based

environmental and security solutions.

 

 

 

 

If you have general questions, comments or concerns about this action,

send email to action -- replying to this action will sign your name

to the petition.

 

 

 

If this message was forwarded to you, join the UCS Action Network today,

it's free and easy.

 

 

We are committed to protecting your privacy, so your email address will

NEVER be sold or exchanged. If you would like to from this

newsletter, please reply to this message with " Remove " in the subject line.

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Nora!

 

I'm sorry, but the links to the petition did not come thru on my server. :-(

Could you perhaps send the links?

This is a very important thing, IMHO, and I'd love to see the site as well!

 

Thankyou!

 

-Glenna

-

Nora Gottlieb

Wednesday, December 15, 2004 9:09 PM

Fw: Drugs in your cereal bowl? SEND

ACTION~a23493u2788387

 

 

 

 

-

Union of Concerned Scientists Action Network

nwgott

Wednesday, December 15, 2004 2:01 PM

Drugs in your cereal bowl? SEND ACTION~a23493u2788387

 

 

 

 

Tell USDA to Protect the Food Supply from Contamination

 

 

Drugs hidden in your cereal bowl? Plastics in your taco shells?

The next wave of genetic engineering includes plants that have been altered to

produce pharmaceuticals and industrial chemicals. An ear of corn could actually

be a biological factory for substances never intended for the food supply. A new

UCS study finds that current production practices and federal regulations do not

protect against contamination from these crops. Add your name to our petition to

the U.S. Department of Agriculture to safeguard our food supply.

 

 

 

 

 

Read the Petition Letter:

 

 

 

Dear Secretary of Agriculture,

 

A Growing Concern, a new report from the Union of Concerned

Scientists (UCS), documents the challenge of protecting the U.S. food supply

from contamination by crops that have been genetically engineered (GE) to

produce drugs and industrial substances ( " pharma crops " ). Based on the report's

findings, we, the undersigned, urge the USDA to halt the outdoor production of

pharma crops immediately, until a system is put in place that can produce drugs

and industrial substances without placing our food system and food industry at

risk.

 

The heart of A Growing Concern is a technical report written by

six agricultural experts commissioned by UCS to analyze the feasibility of

growing corn and soybeans as pharma crops while ensuring virtually zero

contamination of the food supply. They concluded that the current production

processes and production areas for corn and soybeans cannot be used without

substantial modification to completely protect human food and animal feed

supplies from contamination. Because changes on this scale have yet to be

implemented, UCS has concluded that contamination of the food system by pharma

crops may have already occurred and may become more likely in the future.

 

The USDA should act immediately to ban the outdoor production of

pharma crops. We deserve the assurance that every possible measure has been

taken to keep unwanted drugs and chemicals out of our food.

 

Sincerely,

 

(your name and address will be inserted)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Instructions

Action Network members: to automatically sign your name to this

petition letter hit " reply " then " send " in your email program. To learn more

about this issue CLICK HERE

Tell A Friend

Tell friends or relatives about this important action.

The Whole Story

Food crops, primarily corn, are currently being genetically

engineered to produce pharmaceuticals and industrial chemicals. These crops are

referred to as " pharma " crops when they produce drugs, hormones, and other

therapeutic agents, and industrial crops when they produce compounds such as

plastics for use in industry.

 

While the commercial and health benefits of these crops could be

substantial, there are risks to the food supply and the environment associated

with their commercial production. Many pharma and industrial products could harm

humans, livestock, or wildlife if ingested in active forms. more...

 

Your Personal Account

Edit or update your personal information and profile.

Support Us!

The Union of Concerned Scientists relies on individuals like you

to support our research and advocacy. Join us to promote practical,

science-based environmental and security solutions.

 

 

 

 

If you have general questions, comments or concerns about this action,

send email to action -- replying to this action will sign your name

to the petition.

 

 

 

If this message was forwarded to you, join the UCS Action Network today,

it's free and easy.

 

 

We are committed to protecting your privacy, so your email address will

NEVER be sold or exchanged. If you would like to from this

newsletter, please reply to this message with " Remove " in the subject line.

 

 

[Guest guest]

It is the site of Union of Concerned Scientists.....you may have to or

google it if the SEND ACTION~a23493u2788387 code won't work... .

Nora G

-

" PageRox " <PageRox93

 

Friday, December 17, 2004 6:26 AM

Re: Fw: Drugs in your cereal bowl?

SEND ACTION~a23493u2788387

 

 

>

>

> Hi Nora!

>

> I'm sorry, but the links to the petition did not come thru on my server.

:-(

> Could you perhaps send the links?

> This is a very important thing, IMHO, and I'd love to see the site as

well!

>

> Thankyou!

>

> -Glenna

> -

> Nora Gottlieb

>

> Wednesday, December 15, 2004 9:09 PM

> Fw: Drugs in your cereal bowl?

SEND ACTION~a23493u2788387

>

>

>

>

> -

> Union of Concerned Scientists Action Network

> nwgott

> Wednesday, December 15, 2004 2:01 PM

> Drugs in your cereal bowl? SEND ACTION~a23493u2788387

>

>

>

>

> Tell USDA to Protect the Food Supply from Contamination

>

>

> Drugs hidden in your cereal bowl? Plastics in your taco

shells? The next wave of genetic engineering includes plants that have been

altered to produce pharmaceuticals and industrial chemicals. An ear of corn

could actually be a biological factory for substances never intended for the

food supply. A new UCS study finds that current production practices and

federal regulations do not protect against contamination from these crops.

Add your name to our petition to the U.S. Department of Agriculture to

safeguard our food supply.

>

>