CBCNews – Protesters March Against GMO Giant Monsanto In 430 Cities – 26 May 2013
Posted on May 26, 2013 by lucas2012infos | Leave a comment
The Raging Grannies were at the Montreal protest against GMOs and Monsanto. (CBC)
American agricultural giant a prime target in fight against modified foods
Organizers say two million people marched in protest against seed
giant Monsanto in hundreds of rallies across Canada, the U.S. and dozens
of other countries on Saturday.
“March Against Monsanto” protesters say they wanted to call attention
to the dangers posed by genetically modified food and the food giants
that produce it. Founder and organizer Tami Canal said protests were
held in 436 cities in 52 countries.
Genetically modified plants are grown from seeds that are engineered
to resist insecticides and herbicides, add nutritional benefits or
otherwise improve crop yields and increase the global food supply.
Most corn, soybean and cotton crops grown in the United States today
have been genetically modified. But some say genetically modified
organisms can lead to serious health conditions and harm the
environment.
Monsanto Co., based in St. Louis, said Saturday that it respects
people’s rights to express their opinion on the topic, but maintains
that its seeds improve agriculture by helping farmers produce more from
their land while conserving resources such as water and energy.
The use of GMOs has been a growing issue of contention in recent
years, with health advocates pushing for mandatory labeling of
genetically modified products even though the federal government and
many scientists say the technology is safe.
The American Food and Drug Administration does not require the
labeling, but organic food companies and some consumer groups have
intensified their push for labels, arguing that the modified seeds are
floating from field to field and contaminating traditional crops.
The groups have been bolstered by a growing network of consumers who are wary of processed and modified foods.
FDA sees no difference between GMO and non-GMO foods
The Senate this week overwhelmingly rejected a bill that would allow states to require labeling of genetically modified foods.
The Biotechnology Industry Organization, a lobbying group that
represents Monsanto, DuPont & Co. and other makers of genetically
modified seeds, has said that it supports voluntary labeling for people
who seek out such products.
But it says that mandatory labeling would only mislead or confuse
consumers into thinking the products aren’t safe, even though the FDA
has said there’s no difference between GMO and organic, non-GMO foods.
However, state legislatures in Vermont and Connecticut moved ahead
this month with votes to make food companies declare genetically
modified ingredients on their packages. And supermarket retailer Whole
Foods Markets Inc. has said that all products in its North American
stores that contain genetically modified ingredients will be labeled as
such by 2018.
Whole Foods says there is growing demand for products that don’t use
GMOs, with sales of products with a “Non-GMO” verification label spiking
between 15 per cent and 30 per cent.
www.cbc.ca / link to original article
Thanks to: http://lucas2012infos.wordpress.com
Posted on May 26, 2013 by lucas2012infos | Leave a comment
The Raging Grannies were at the Montreal protest against GMOs and Monsanto. (CBC)
American agricultural giant a prime target in fight against modified foods
Organizers say two million people marched in protest against seed
giant Monsanto in hundreds of rallies across Canada, the U.S. and dozens
of other countries on Saturday.
“March Against Monsanto” protesters say they wanted to call attention
to the dangers posed by genetically modified food and the food giants
that produce it. Founder and organizer Tami Canal said protests were
held in 436 cities in 52 countries.
Genetically modified plants are grown from seeds that are engineered
to resist insecticides and herbicides, add nutritional benefits or
otherwise improve crop yields and increase the global food supply.
Most corn, soybean and cotton crops grown in the United States today
have been genetically modified. But some say genetically modified
organisms can lead to serious health conditions and harm the
environment.
- Explore the debate around modified foods
Monsanto Co., based in St. Louis, said Saturday that it respects
people’s rights to express their opinion on the topic, but maintains
that its seeds improve agriculture by helping farmers produce more from
their land while conserving resources such as water and energy.
The use of GMOs has been a growing issue of contention in recent
years, with health advocates pushing for mandatory labeling of
genetically modified products even though the federal government and
many scientists say the technology is safe.
The American Food and Drug Administration does not require the
labeling, but organic food companies and some consumer groups have
intensified their push for labels, arguing that the modified seeds are
floating from field to field and contaminating traditional crops.
The groups have been bolstered by a growing network of consumers who are wary of processed and modified foods.
FDA sees no difference between GMO and non-GMO foods
The Senate this week overwhelmingly rejected a bill that would allow states to require labeling of genetically modified foods.
The Biotechnology Industry Organization, a lobbying group that
represents Monsanto, DuPont & Co. and other makers of genetically
modified seeds, has said that it supports voluntary labeling for people
who seek out such products.
But it says that mandatory labeling would only mislead or confuse
consumers into thinking the products aren’t safe, even though the FDA
has said there’s no difference between GMO and organic, non-GMO foods.
However, state legislatures in Vermont and Connecticut moved ahead
this month with votes to make food companies declare genetically
modified ingredients on their packages. And supermarket retailer Whole
Foods Markets Inc. has said that all products in its North American
stores that contain genetically modified ingredients will be labeled as
such by 2018.
Whole Foods says there is growing demand for products that don’t use
GMOs, with sales of products with a “Non-GMO” verification label spiking
between 15 per cent and 30 per cent.
www.cbc.ca / link to original article
Thanks to: http://lucas2012infos.wordpress.com