politics, pseudoscience and corporate cash: the defeat of oregon’s measure 27 (requiring labeling...

Politics, Pseudoscience Politics, Pseudoscience and Corporate Cash: The and Corporate Cash: The

Defeat of Oregon’s Defeat of Oregon’s Measure 27 (Requiring Measure 27 (Requiring Labeling of Genetically-Labeling of Genetically-

Modified Foods)Modified Foods)Martin Donohoe, MD, FACPMartin Donohoe, MD, FACP

Old Town ClinicOld Town ClinicPortland State UniversityPortland State University

Oregon Physicians for Social Oregon Physicians for Social ResponsibilityResponsibility

Measure 27Measure 27

November, 2002 Oregon ballotNovember, 2002 Oregon ballot Required labeling of genetically-Required labeling of genetically-

engineered foods sold or engineered foods sold or distributed in the statedistributed in the state

Wholesale and retail, e.g., Wholesale and retail, e.g., supermarketssupermarkets Not cafeterias, restaurants, Not cafeterias, restaurants,

prisons, bake sales, etc.prisons, bake sales, etc.


Defeated 73% to 27%Defeated 73% to 27%

Surprising, since multiple polls Surprising, since multiple polls conducted by the news media, conducted by the news media, government and industry show government and industry show from 85-95% of US citizens favor from 85-95% of US citizens favor labelinglabeling


Opponents outspent proponents $5.3 Opponents outspent proponents $5.3 million to $200,000million to $200,000

Vast majority of opposition funding Vast majority of opposition funding from corporations headquartered from corporations headquartered outside state:outside state: Monsanto, Dupont, Syngenia, Dow Monsanto, Dupont, Syngenia, Dow

Agro Sciences, BASF, Aventis, Agro Sciences, BASF, Aventis, Hoechst, and Bayer Crop ScienceHoechst, and Bayer Crop Science


Aided by PR and political Aided by PR and political professionalsprofessionals

Hid behind scientific-sounding Hid behind scientific-sounding “advocacy” groups – e.g., The “advocacy” groups – e.g., The Council for Biotechnology Council for Biotechnology InformationInformation

Corporate Opposition to Corporate Opposition to Measure 27Measure 27

Vested interest in spreading Vested interest in spreading deliberate misinformation deliberate misinformation about the initiative to keep the about the initiative to keep the public ignorant of the adverse public ignorant of the adverse consequences of their profit-consequences of their profit-driven manipulation of the driven manipulation of the world’s food supplyworld’s food supply

Measure 27 Opponents’ Measure 27 Opponents’ Other ActivitiesOther Activities

Chemical weapons:Chemical weapons: Hoechst (mustard gas), Monsanto (Agent Hoechst (mustard gas), Monsanto (Agent

Orange), Dow (napalm)Orange), Dow (napalm) Pesticides:Pesticides:

Monsanto (DDT)Monsanto (DDT) Ozone-destroying Ozone-destroying

chlorofluorocarbons:chlorofluorocarbons: Dupont and Hoechst major producersDupont and Hoechst major producers

Agricultural Antibiotics:Agricultural Antibiotics: Many companiesMany companies

Opposition TacticsOpposition Tactics

Claimed measure would unfairly Claimed measure would unfairly hurt Oregon farmers, grocers, hurt Oregon farmers, grocers, restaurants, schools and non-profit restaurants, schools and non-profit groupsgroupsNo commercial GE crops grown No commercial GE crops grown

in Oregonin OregonGrocers, restaurants, schools and Grocers, restaurants, schools and

non-profit groups not affectednon-profit groups not affected


Funded commercial diatribes Funded commercial diatribes describing increased, onerous and describing increased, onerous and complicated government oversightcomplicated government oversight

Frightened public with unfounded Frightened public with unfounded fears of tax increases of up to fears of tax increases of up to $1500 per family$1500 per family Realistic estimates $4 - Realistic estimates $4 -

$10/person/year$10/person/year


Accused Measure’s supporters Accused Measure’s supporters of being “against national policy of being “against national policy and scientific consensus”and scientific consensus”

Argued that labels would Argued that labels would provide “unreliable, useless provide “unreliable, useless information that would information that would unnecessarily confuse, mislead unnecessarily confuse, mislead and alarm consumers”and alarm consumers”


Claimed USDA, EPA and FDA Claimed USDA, EPA and FDA evaluate safety of GE products from evaluate safety of GE products from inception to “final approval”inception to “final approval” USDA deals with field testing, EPA USDA deals with field testing, EPA

with environmental concerns, FDA with environmental concerns, FDA considers GE foods equivalent to considers GE foods equivalent to non-GE foodsnon-GE foods

FDA (1992): Declared GM foods FDA (1992): Declared GM foods “substantially equivalent to “substantially equivalent to regular foods”regular foods”


All rely on safety tests done by All rely on safety tests done by companies making GE productscompanies making GE productsCorporations are not required Corporations are not required

to report results to to report results to governmentgovernment

Corporations Dominate Corporations Dominate Oregon PoliticsOregon Politics

Oregon corporate income taxes have Oregon corporate income taxes have decreased by 40% over the past 12 yearsdecreased by 40% over the past 12 years Lowest corporate taxes of any Western stateLowest corporate taxes of any Western state

Corporations outspend labor unions 5-1 Corporations outspend labor unions 5-1 and massively outspend all other and massively outspend all other progressive groups and causes put progressive groups and causes put togethertogether

Oregon is one of only six states to allow Oregon is one of only six states to allow unlimited corporate campaign unlimited corporate campaign contributionscontributions

Post-Measure 27 Post-Measure 27 ActivitiesActivities

Ongoing vigorous lobbying campaign Ongoing vigorous lobbying campaign to pass bill pre-empting any locality in to pass bill pre-empting any locality in Oregon from passing a labeling billOregon from passing a labeling bill

Nationwide: lawsuits against farmersNationwide: lawsuits against farmers Supported by 75 employee, $10 million Supported by 75 employee, $10 million

legal division at Monsantolegal division at Monsanto Most farmers settle; settlement terms Most farmers settle; settlement terms

often sealedoften sealed

Food Labeling in the U.S.Food Labeling in the U.S.

Vitamin, mineral, caloric and fat Vitamin, mineral, caloric and fat contentcontent

Sulfites (allergies)Sulfites (allergies)

Source of proteins (vegetarians)Source of proteins (vegetarians)

GE Food Labeling GE Food Labeling WorldwideWorldwide

Most processed foods available in Most processed foods available in the U.S. today come from GM cropsthe U.S. today come from GM crops

European Union has required European Union has required labeling since 1998labeling since 1998

GE Food Labeling GE Food Labeling WorldwideWorldwide

Japan, China, Australia, and many Japan, China, Australia, and many other countries also require labelsother countries also require labels

Many countries ban the import of Many countries ban the import of GE foods from the U.S. and GE foods from the U.S. and elsewhereelsewhere EU considering lifting ban; U.S. EU considering lifting ban; U.S.

suing E.U. through WTOsuing E.U. through WTO

Benefits of Labeling GE Benefits of Labeling GE FoodsFoods

Prevent allergic reactionsPrevent allergic reactions Soybeans modified with Brazil nut genesSoybeans modified with Brazil nut genes

Allow vegetarians to avoid animal Allow vegetarians to avoid animal genesgenes Tomatoes with flounder genesTomatoes with flounder genes

Permit concerned individuals to avoid Permit concerned individuals to avoid milk from rBGH-treated cattlemilk from rBGH-treated cattle Risks to humans, cattle and the Risks to humans, cattle and the

environmentenvironment


Heighten public awareness of Heighten public awareness of genetic engineeringgenetic engineeringMillions of Americans eat GM Millions of Americans eat GM

foods every day without foods every day without knowing itknowing it

Only 24% of Americans believe Only 24% of Americans believe they have eaten GM foodsthey have eaten GM foods


Grant people freedom to choose Grant people freedom to choose what they eat based on what they eat based on individual willingness to individual willingness to confront riskconfront risk

Ensure healthy public debate Ensure healthy public debate over the merits of genetic over the merits of genetic modification of foodstuffsmodification of foodstuffs

Health and Environmental Health and Environmental Risks of GE FoodsRisks of GE Foods

Allergies and toxicities from new proteins Allergies and toxicities from new proteins entering the food supplyentering the food supply EMS from GE-L-tryptophan supplements in EMS from GE-L-tryptophan supplements in

1980s1980s FDA covered upFDA covered up

Bt corn increases sensitivity of mammals to Bt corn increases sensitivity of mammals to other allergensother allergens

GM peas cause lung inflammation in mice – GM peas cause lung inflammation in mice – trial stoppedtrial stopped

New, allergenic proteins in GE soy in South New, allergenic proteins in GE soy in South KoreaKorea


Secret Monsanto report found that Secret Monsanto report found that rats fed a diet rich in GM corn had rats fed a diet rich in GM corn had smaller kidneys and unusually high smaller kidneys and unusually high white blood cell countswhite blood cell counts

Russian Academy of Sciences Russian Academy of Sciences report found up to six-fold increase report found up to six-fold increase in death and severe underweight in death and severe underweight in infants of mothers fed GM soyin infants of mothers fed GM soy


Altered nutritional value of Altered nutritional value of foodstuffsfoodstuffs

Transfer of antibiotic resistance Transfer of antibiotic resistance genes into intestinal bacteria or genes into intestinal bacteria or other organisms, contributing to other organisms, contributing to antibiotic resistance in human antibiotic resistance in human pathogenspathogens


Increased pesticide use when Increased pesticide use when pests inevitably develop pests inevitably develop resistance to GE food toxinsresistance to GE food toxins Reproductive and neurotoxic effectsReproductive and neurotoxic effects

Greater herbicide use – confirmed by Greater herbicide use – confirmed by multiple studiesmultiple studies Glyphosphate and Roundup toxic to Glyphosphate and Roundup toxic to

placentaplacenta

GM crops and Pesticide GM crops and Pesticide UseUse

Overall pesticide use up 4.1% Overall pesticide use up 4.1% (122 million pound increase (122 million pound increase since 1996)since 1996)

Pesticide use down in Bt Pesticide use down in Bt crops, herbicide use up in crops, herbicide use up in herbicide-tolerant (e.g., herbicide-tolerant (e.g., Roundup Ready) cropsRoundup Ready) crops

Bt PlantsBt Plants

Bt cotton destroyed by mealy bug; Bt cotton destroyed by mealy bug; harvests in India decline harvests in India decline dramatically, leading to rash of dramatically, leading to rash of suicides among farmerssuicides among farmers

Bt corn more susceptible to aphidsBt corn more susceptible to aphids Monsanto pays fines for bribing Monsanto pays fines for bribing

Indonesian and Turkish officials to Indonesian and Turkish officials to accept Bt plantsaccept Bt plants


Acrylamide released from Acrylamide released from polyacrylamide (added to polyacrylamide (added to commercial herbicide mixtures to commercial herbicide mixtures to reduce spray drift) = neurotoxin, reduce spray drift) = neurotoxin, reproductive toxin, and carcinogenreproductive toxin, and carcinogen

Non-target insects dying from Non-target insects dying from exposure to pesticide-resistant cropsexposure to pesticide-resistant crops Ripple effects on other organismsRipple effects on other organisms


Genes, initially designed to protect crops Genes, initially designed to protect crops from herbicides, being transferred to native from herbicides, being transferred to native weedsweeds Create herbicide-resistant “superweeds” (8 Create herbicide-resistant “superweeds” (8

species identified by 2005, 5 in the U.S.)species identified by 2005, 5 in the U.S.)Herbicide-resistant oilseed rape has Herbicide-resistant oilseed rape has transferred gene to charlock weeks in transferred gene to charlock weeks in U.K.U.K.

Glyphosate (Roundup)-resistant pigweed Glyphosate (Roundup)-resistant pigweed in MO and GA, ryegrass in CA, maretail in MO and GA, ryegrass in CA, maretail in multiple statesin multiple states


GE plants and animals interbreeding with GE plants and animals interbreeding with wild relativeswild relatives Spread novel genes into wild populationsSpread novel genes into wild populations

Herbicide-resistant oilseed rape genes Herbicide-resistant oilseed rape genes found in turnipsfound in turnips

21% of U.S. farmers in violation of EPA 21% of U.S. farmers in violation of EPA rule requiring GE fields to contain at least rule requiring GE fields to contain at least 20% non-GE crop20% non-GE crop

¼ to 1/3 of Mexican corn samples ¼ to 1/3 of Mexican corn samples contaminated; Columbian coca plantscontaminated; Columbian coca plants

Failure of Regulatory Failure of Regulatory OversightOversight

““The Department of The Department of Agriculture has failed to Agriculture has failed to regulate field trials of GE regulate field trials of GE crops adequately”crops adequately”Department of Agriculture’s Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General, Office of Inspector General, 1/061/06

BiopharmingBiopharming

The engineering of plants to The engineering of plants to produce pharmaceuticals such as produce pharmaceuticals such as enzymes, antibiotics, enzymes, antibiotics, contraceptives, abortifacients, contraceptives, abortifacients, chemotherapeutic agents, other chemotherapeutic agents, other medications, and vaccinesmedications, and vaccines

Other organismsOther organismsFish: tilapia/clotting factor VIIFish: tilapia/clotting factor VIICattle: biopharming via milkCattle: biopharming via milk


400 products under 400 products under developmentdevelopment

Over 300 open-air testsOver 300 open-air tests


USDA conceals crop locations USDA conceals crop locations from public and neighboring from public and neighboring farmers, in most cases hides farmers, in most cases hides identity of drug or chemical identity of drug or chemical being tested, citing trade secretsbeing tested, citing trade secrets


Even state agriculture Even state agriculture regulators often unaware of regulators often unaware of info re drug or chemical info re drug or chemical involvedinvolved

HI judge ordered USDA to HI judge ordered USDA to disclose location of biopharmed disclose location of biopharmed crops as part of lawsuitcrops as part of lawsuit


10 states + Puerto Rico; 10 states + Puerto Rico; others soonothers soon

Hawaii – most tests; most Hawaii – most tests; most fragile ecosystemfragile ecosystem

Cases of food crop Cases of food crop contamination reportedcontamination reported

Famine and GE FoodsFamine and GE Foods

Food dictators who control GE seeds Food dictators who control GE seeds and plants attempted, through the and plants attempted, through the UNFAO and the WHO, to use the UNFAO and the WHO, to use the famines in Zambia and Angola to famines in Zambia and Angola to market GE foods through aid market GE foods through aid programs, even though…programs, even though…

More than 45 African (and other) More than 45 African (and other) countries expressed a willingness to countries expressed a willingness to supply local, non-GE reliefsupply local, non-GE relief

Famine and GE FoodsFamine and GE Foods

Zambia and Angola did not wish to Zambia and Angola did not wish to pollute its crops with GE foods, pollute its crops with GE foods, which would have prevented it from which would have prevented it from exporting home-grown crops to exporting home-grown crops to many other countries which do not many other countries which do not accept GE imports (further accept GE imports (further weakening its already fragile weakening its already fragile economy)economy)

Zimbabwe and Malawi have also Zimbabwe and Malawi have also refused GM food aidrefused GM food aid

GE Foods and World GE Foods and World HungerHunger

GE foods promoted as the GE foods promoted as the solution to world hungersolution to world hunger

Undermine food and nutritional Undermine food and nutritional security, food sovereignty and security, food sovereignty and food democracyfood democracy


Increasing reliance on GE foodIncreasing reliance on GE food Consolidates corporate control of Consolidates corporate control of

agricultureagriculture Transmogrifies farmers into bioserfsTransmogrifies farmers into bioserfs

World hunger will not be solved World hunger will not be solved through large-scale molecular through large-scale molecular manipulation of food crops whose manipulation of food crops whose cultivation has been carefully cultivation has been carefully perfected over 10,000 yearsperfected over 10,000 years


There is already enough food to feed the There is already enough food to feed the planetplanet UN FAO: Enough food to provide over 2700 UN FAO: Enough food to provide over 2700

calories/day to every personcalories/day to every person Feeding everyone requires political Feeding everyone requires political

and social willand social will Irony that the U.S., home to many GE Irony that the U.S., home to many GE

firms, has rates of child poverty and firms, has rates of child poverty and hunger among the highest in the hunger among the highest in the industrialized worldindustrialized world

SolutionsSolutions

Outlaw GM cropsOutlaw GM crops Labeling lawsLabeling laws

Allow informed consumer choiceAllow informed consumer choice Rep. Dennis Kucinich’s House bills Rep. Dennis Kucinich’s House bills

to require labeling, expand FDA to require labeling, expand FDA oversight, increase regulations re oversight, increase regulations re biopharming, and expand research biopharming, and expand research to help developing nations feed to help developing nations feed themselvesthemselves

SolutionsSolutions Expose and oppose industry attempts to pre-Expose and oppose industry attempts to pre-

empt labeling initiatives/lawsempt labeling initiatives/laws New ballot initiatives and legislationNew ballot initiatives and legislation

Marin, Mendocino and Trinity Counties Marin, Mendocino and Trinity Counties (CA) ban GMO crops(CA) ban GMO crops

Vermont now requires manufacturers of Vermont now requires manufacturers of GM seeds to label and register their GM seeds to label and register their productsproducts

Ireland pledges to go GM-free – 2007Ireland pledges to go GM-free – 2007 Scotland, Austria and Greece prohibit Scotland, Austria and Greece prohibit

planting of GM organismsplanting of GM organisms Moscow now requires labeling of GM foodsMoscow now requires labeling of GM foods

SolutionsSolutions

Campaign finance reformCampaign finance reform Public educationPublic education

Sound environmental education to Sound environmental education to counter corporate-sponsored counter corporate-sponsored curricula and greenwashcurricula and greenwash

ActivismActivism e.g., Oregon PSR’s Campaign for e.g., Oregon PSR’s Campaign for

Safe Foods – Biopharm Bill, rBGH Safe Foods – Biopharm Bill, rBGH CampaignCampaign

SolutionsSolutions

Support local, organic Support local, organic agriculture and patronize agriculture and patronize farmers’ marketsfarmers’ markets

Consumer-supported agriculture Consumer-supported agriculture co-opsco-ops

Consumers willing to pay Consumers willing to pay substantial premiums to avoid GE substantial premiums to avoid GE foodsfoods

SolutionsSolutions

Oppose IMF, World Bank, and Oppose IMF, World Bank, and WTO structural adjustment WTO structural adjustment programs which exacerbate programs which exacerbate hunger in the developing world by hunger in the developing world by forcing debtor nations to forcing debtor nations to restructure their agricultural base restructure their agricultural base toward export crops and away toward export crops and away from nutritional foodstuffs for local from nutritional foodstuffs for local consumptionconsumption

SolutionsSolutions

Support increased research and Support increased research and subsidies for alternative agriculturesubsidies for alternative agriculture

Support equitable distribution of Support equitable distribution of agricultural resources among agricultural resources among populations worldwidepopulations worldwide

Support increased, non-GM Support increased, non-GM agricultural aid to developing agricultural aid to developing nationsnations

Reference/WebsiteReference/Website

Donohoe MT. Genetically-Modified Foods: Donohoe MT. Genetically-Modified Foods: Health and Environmental Risks and the Health and Environmental Risks and the Corporate Agribusiness Agenda. Z Corporate Agribusiness Agenda. Z Magazine 2006 (December):35-40. Magazine 2006 (December):35-40. Available at Available at http://zmagsite.zmag.org/Dec2006/donohohttp://zmagsite.zmag.org/Dec2006/donohoe1206.htmle1206.html

Campaign for Safe Food, Oregon Campaign for Safe Food, Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility: Physicians for Social Responsibility: http://http://www.oregonpsr.org/programs/campaignSwww.oregonpsr.org/programs/campaignSafeFood.htmlafeFood.html

Contact InformationContact Information

Public Health and Social Public Health and Social Justice WebsiteJustice Website

http://www.phsj.orghttp://www.phsj.org

[email protected]@phsj.org

politics, pseudoscience and corporate cash: the defeat of oregon’s measure 27 (requiring labeling...

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