what are gmo’s?
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You Are What You Eat Initiative for Labeling of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s) in Wisconsin. What are GMO’s?. GMOs are plants or animals that have been genetically engineered with DNA from bacteria, viruses, or other plants and animals - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
You Are What You EatInitiative for Labeling of Genetically
Modified Organisms (GMO’s) in Wisconsin
GMOs are plants or animals that have been genetically engineered with DNA from bacteria, viruses, or other plants and animals GMOs are made by inserting a foreign gene into a plant or animal
with the goal of conferring properties that have some agricultural benefit.
Purpose: to create plants and animals that are able to withstand direct application of herbicide or to create the ability to produce an insecticide
High-Risk Crops: Corn (Approx. 88% of U.S. crop in 2011)
Corn is found in over 75% of the food products in your grocery store Soy (Approx. 94% of U.S. crop in 2011) Zucchini and Yellow Summer Squash
What are GMO’s?
The Issue Since GMOs introduction in 1996, we have
seen: 1) An increase in chronic illnesses from 7% to
13% Recent report links glyphosate, the
pesticide in Roundup for which GMO’s were created, to be linked to diseases such as Parkinson’s, various cancers, and infertility. Glyphosate destroys Cytochrome P450 pathways, which are in charge of detoxification, resulting in altered gut bacteria and diseases such as diabetes
2) Food allergies have since skyrocketed Data from the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention showing an 18% increase in reported food allergy cases among children between 1997 and 2007
3) Reproductive disorders, digestive problems, and others health-related issues are on the rise
4) Between 1996 and 2012,over 500 million additional pounds of herbicide were used to combat “superweeds” resistant to the herbicide
Statistics at a Glance
Farmers in 29 countries grew nearly 400 million acres of commercial GE crops in 2011, an 8% increase from the previous year.
An estimated 60–70% of processed foods in the United States contain GE ingredients, and GE corn and soybeans make up the majority of the U.S. crop.
In Europe, six nations (Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, and Luxembourg) have enacted bans on the cultivation and import of GE products,
and at least 63 nations worldwide require that all GE foods be labeled as such.
Fast Facts
USA’s Use of GMO Crops Compared to Other Countries
Require labeling of GMO-containing products
Solution?
In 2011, Center for Food Safety submitted a formal legal petition to theFood and Drug Administration (FDA) on behalf of over 650 companies and organizations demanding that FDA require the mandatory labeling of genetically engineered (GE) foods. Since it was filed, 55 members of Congress and over 1.4 million people have submitted comments in support of the petition; yet, FDA has failed to take action to require the labeling of GE foods.
Because of this, U.S. States have taken the lead in protecting the public’s right to know what is in their food. In 2013, Connecticut and Maine passedGE labeling, laws, with another in Vermont passing one legislative body. In total, 54 bills were introduced across 26 states, and a Washington Stateballot initiative narrowly lost, 51-49%. But the momentum is only growing…
Already in 2014, 33 new GE food labeling bills were introduced in 19 states, with an Oregon ballot initiative also on target for November2014, bringing the total number of active bills and ballot initiatives to65 across 26 states.
Current Status Throughout the States
Wisconsin Assembly Bill 874 introduced and read for first time on 3/18/2014
Introduced by 5 Rep.’s, all (D) Cosponsored by 3 Senators, all (D) Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint
Resolution 1 on 4/18/2014 Language virtually identical to successfully
passed IL SB requiring GMO labeling
WISCONSIN’S VENUE AND VEHICLE?
Policy Paramours Supporters of AB 874 Representative Chris
Taylor (D) 76th District-Madison Husband has PhD in
teaches Environmental Studies
On Committee of Health
Rep. Tod Ohnstad (D) Cosponsor of AB 874 Serves Kenosha (local)
WI Senate Paramours
Senator Jon Erpenbach (D)
Use to be short order cook and meat packer
Supporter of AB874
2 other Senators supported AB 874 Senator Risser (D) Senator Harris (D)
Policy Paramours-Reaching Across the Aisle in the State Assembly
Rep. Robin Vos (R) From Burlington, attended UW-
Whitewater Speaker of WI State Assembly Owns small popcorn business (GMO-
based popcorn? His thoughts on how it would impact his business? Gaining his perspective is important)
National connections-roomed w/ RNC Reince Priebus and Paul Ryan’s Chief of Staff
Rep. Alvin Ott (R) Consumer Protection Committee Former agri-business salesman, dairy
farmer, and cash crop farmer Help with WI Corn Growers Assoc.
support of the bill Elected to Assembly since 1986
Policy Paramours-Reaching Across the Aisle in the State Senate
State Senator Scott Fitzgerald (R)
Leader of the WI State Senate
Originally from Chicago
Currently lives on a farm that raises horses
Policy Paramours-Consumer Protection Committee
Representative Thiesfeldt (Chair) (R)
Representative Tittl (Vice-Chair) (R)
Representative Nerison (R) Representative
Weatherston (R) Representative Jagler (R) Representative Pope (D) Representative Johnson (D) Representative Wright (D)
Important Notes: All of AB 874’s
supporters were (D) 5 out of 8
Representatives on Consumer Protection Committee are (R)
Policy ParamoursNational Level
First Lady Michelle Obama Very active in the Let's
Move! Initiative Supporter of new
requirements put on FDA regarding food labels
Big proponent and very outspoken about importance of leading a healthy lifestyle
Follow Suit on Successfully Passed Bill-Illinois
IL SB 1666 stated key Legislative Findings:
Consumers have the right to know, overwhelmingly favor (90%), 61 other countries mandate disclosure, GE of plants and animals cause unintended consequences due to imprecise process, scientists state cause an increase in levels of known toxicants and allergens, labeling can provide a method for detecting at a large epidemiological scale the potential health effects of consuming such foods, consumers may unknowingly violate their dietary and religious beliefs, restriction on imports of U.S. crops due to inability to determine what does or doesn’t meet the nation’s labeling laws, preserving economic value of exports, foods identified (voluntarily) as non-GE constitute the fastest growing market segment in agriculture, the serious effects on the environment-largely due to the 527 million pounds of additional pesticide applied to crops thanks to GE’s built-in resistant to herbicides and superweeds growing as a result.
The EPA, USDA and FDA research establishments
Specifically, FDA has a conflict of interest 15 influential people in the gov’t also hold high
positions at Monsanto, allowing for their own agenda in federal decision-making
Public universities/research institutions
Governmental Stakeholders
YOU! Citizen Consumers Local Farmers Grocery Stores Restaurants Ingredient suppliers Organic and sustainable agriculture groups Animals Environment Health Practitioners (in documentation of trends in
ailments once GMO’s are labeled)
Non-Governmental
Have we though through the realistic potential for problems and put regulatory safety nets out to protect ourselves?
Be Transparent! If there’s nothing to hide then simply don’t imply like you’re trying to!
A simple label will provide consumers with the ability of choice-something that every individual should be able to decide for his or herself Individual’s rights are more important than corporations’ rights
Proposed action: Amend AB 874 To help alleviate the fears producers have with labeling, they could also
include labeling/advertisements that indicate the product being grown locally, having a positive impact on the environment, etc.
Studies have shown that when thoughtful marketing is implemented, seemingly obvious evils of GMO’s may be reduced in consumers eyes. Psychology studies show that truthfulness helps sales-even if the truth is
sometimes scary to some. PLEASE SUPPORT THE RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT WE EAT!
MESSAGING & MARKETINGGMO Labeling: Because There’s
Something Unusual About Transferring A Firefly Gene Into A Tomato
http://datcp.wi.gov/Farms/Organic_Farming/Advisory_Council/index.aspxhttp://legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb/pubs/wb/12wb10.pdf
http://www.anh-usa.org/gmo-labeling-bill-introduced-in-congress/
http://www.michaelbest.com/pubs/pubDetailMB.aspx?xpST=PubDetail&pub=3602
http://www.yaleruddcenter.org/resources/upload/docs/what/policy/legislation/wi%20ab%20874_gmo%20labeling_taylor_3-18-14.pdf (ACTUAL PROPOSED BILL)
https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2013/proposals/ab874
http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/120-a358/
http://www.buffalonews.com/opinion/viewpoints/dont-fear-gmos-genetically-modified-food-is-just-the-latest-chapter-in-10000-years-of-high-tech-agriculture-20140406
http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2013/11/04/dear-washington-voters-genetically-modified-food-should-be-labeled
http://www.tendergreens.com/blog/274/an-argument-for-labeling-genetically-modified-foods
http://organicconnectmag.com/whats-the-difference-between-ge-and-gmo/#.U0VfyvldWoM
http://www.marklynas.org/2013/10/why-we-need-to-label-gmos/
Sources
http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/03/opinion/schubert-gmo-labeling/
http://www.responsibletechnology.org/10-Reasons-to-Avoid-GMOs
http://swcoalition.org/2013/09/whos-stake-gmo-policy/
http://supermarketnews.com/blog/stakeholders-gmo-debate-prepare-clash-again
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/foodnut/09371.htmlhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/carole-bartolotto/why-genetically-modified-food_b_4039114.html
http://grist.org/food/would-gmo-labeling-increase-food-prices/
http://grist.org/food/genetically-engineered-food-allergic-to-regulations/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1083956/ http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/05/01/the-rise-of-genetically-modified-crops-in-two-
charts/
Sources