[SustainableTompkins] Action on GENETICALLY ENGINEERED SUGAR

[Kathy Luz Herrera]

Hi all,
When I used the OCA website to take action on this, I got a message 
back suggesting that my previous message was filtered out as spam. I 
was given a link to another site to comment. It restricts comments to 
1000 characters.

I did not let diversion to another site discourage me from weighing 
in on this.
Link to company site: http://www.econsumeraffairs.com/mmm/contactus.htm
My (shortened to 1000 characters) comments as submitted:

James Jenness
Paul S. Michaels
Richard H. Lenny
I thank American Crystal its past support for sugar beet farmers not 
converting to genetically engineered sugar beets. Recent comments 
suggest that American Crystal now supports this transition.

As I cannot rely on packaging labels to indicate which products 
contain genetically engineered ingredients and which do not, I will 
purchase products from companies publicly stating they do not use 
genetically engineered ingredients and/or products that are USDA 
certified organic.

Numerous factors contribute to my decision. Unfortunately, space 
limitations of this website constrain me from fully stating them. In 
short, these factors include past actions and misrepresentations from 
the bio tech industry regarding genetically modified foods, and 
documented increased use of pesticides on Roundup Ready crops such as 
sugar beets due to herbicide-resistance.
Please reconsider your decision to support genetically engineered 
sugar beets and, in so doing, you will make American Crystal a food 
staple that consumers can confidently rely on in the long term.

Thank you,
Kathy Luz Herrera
116 Utica St.
Ithaca, NY 14850



>Date: Fri, 23 May 2008 14:35:46 -0400
>From: "Kate Richard" <kate at reinmotion.com>
>Subject: [SustainableTompkins] ALERT: GENETICALLY ENGINEERED SUGAR TO
>         HIT     STORES IN 2008
>To: "Sustainable Tompkins County listserv"
>         <sustainabletompkins at lists.mutualaid.org>,      "Steve Richard"
>         <randomresponse at gmail.com>,     "MOM" <lgthselvr3 at yahoo.ie>, "DAD"
>         <rthrbcampn at yahoo.com>
>Message-ID: <WorldClient-F200805231435.AA35461187 at reinmotion.com>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
>Thought you all might want to know about this! ~Kate
>
>
>
>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
>[http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001wA96-eQGF63g5oS1DEycCCOSfA1eUhGHQSTRy66Y5ABKar456mw73qIgH3og_Ppy5hqHDu1BrM5_sprIhlz8elE7PFVDLiPprNW0Hv1MjzJdLRHFK4zmP_nVVrdm0_xAd77piv3mBhJaeW2Z2RJs8kWk3upZcH8i]
>
>Kate Richard
>EcoProperties Group
>Energy Efficiency ~ Sustainable Practices ~ Health & WellbeingCell:
>607.592.1947Office: 607.277.1500 x 239
>Fax: 607.697.0404
>IM:  MyRealtorKate
>RE/MAX In Motion
>531 Esty Street
>Ithaca, NY 14850
>
>NYS Licensed Real Estate SalespersonEcoBroker Certified?