GMW: Non-GMO Project Launched in U.S. and Canada

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GMW: Non-GMO Project Launched in U.S. and Canada

" GM WATCH " <info

Tue, 10 Jan 2006 13:08:17 GMT

 

 

GM WATCH daily

http://www.gmwatch.org

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EXCERPT: GMO contamination of crops is a fast growing concern across

the North American continent, and polls repeatedly show that the

majority of Americans and Canadians feel that GMOs should be labeled

in food.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

The Non-GMO Project Is Officially Launched in Both the United States

and Canada

 

A Collaboration of North American Grocery Stores and Co-ops Urges Food

Companies to Join their Historic 3rd-Party Certification Program for

Non-GMO, the First of its Kind.

 

BERKELEY / TORONTO, January 4, 2006

 

GMO = " Genetically Modified Organism " . As the debate rages over the

uses of biotechnology, especially the genetic modification of plants

and animals for use in commercial food products, a group of natural

grocery stores and co-ops in the United States and Canada have taken

the issue into their own hands. They have formed The Non-GMO Project,

which will provide North American consumers with the ability to

purchase Non-GMO products produced in compliance with a membership

supported, rigorous Non-GMO Program Standard. " People have a right to

know what is in the food and supplement products they are buying, "

said a project spokesman, " And if most people knew for certain that

they were buying a product that contained GMOs, they would seek an

alternative. "

 

Due to the absence of food labeling laws for GMOs in both the U.S. and

Canada, consumers cannot be certain if a food or supplement product

contains genetically modified ingredients. In addition, while the U.S.

National Organic Standards and the National Standard of Canada for

Organic Agriculture assure that food and supplement ingredients

carrying their organic label are not grown from genetically modified

seeds, neither program deals with the issues of genetic contamination.

GMO contamination of crops is a fast growing concern across the North

American continent, and polls repeatedly show that the majority of

Americans and Canadians feel that GMOs should be labeled in food.

 

There has been a growing concern, supported by mounting scientific

evidence, that the introduction of GMOs into the food supply could

have potentially disastrous effects. " 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. " -- Dr. Philip

Regal, Professor of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior at the University

of Minnesota and an internationally recognized plant expert

 

The Non-GMO Project was founded by two natural grocery stores, The

Natural Grocery Company in Berkeley, California, and The Big Carrot

Natural Food Market in Toronto, Canada. To create a systematic and

scientific program for Non-GMO certification, they have retained

Genetic ID North America, the world's leader in GMO control and

identification. The Project's mission is two-fold; first, it seeks to

enlist as many member grocery stores as possible across the United

States and Canada. Second, The Non-GMO Project will contact all

natural foods & supplements manufacturers, and formally request their

participation.

 

The Non-GMO Project asks members for a nominal membership fee to help

cover costs. It is a not-for-profit initiative, and in the U.S. a

direct project of The Coordinating Council, an educational 501©(3)

non-profit organization that focuses on finding alternative solutions

for urgent global issues.

 

To join The Non-GMO Project as a member store, or for more information

about the project, please visit their website:

http://www.nongmoproject.org

 

U.S. Contact: Corey Nicholl, The Non-GMO Project, (510) 526-2456

ext.154, or info <info

 

Canada Contact: Asa Copithorne, The Non-GMO Project, (416) 466-2129

ext. 638, or asa <asa

 

 

 

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