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[SANET-MG] non-GMO project
From GM Watch
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.
---
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(c)(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@nongmoproject.org <mailto:info@nongmoproject.org>
Canada Contact: Asa Copithorne, The Non-GMO Project, (416) 466-2129 ext.
638, or asa@thebigcarrot.ca <mailto:asa@thebigcarrot.ca>
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