Dear Friends,
You must have heard of Bt Cotton, Bt Brinjal, Bt Bhindi and other such crops, which are Genetically Modified (GM). These GM crops are created unnaturally, by taking genes from unrelated organisms like bacteria, viruses, animals etc. and inserting them into the cells of almost our food plants like brinjal, rice, bhindi, etc. The science and technology of Genetic Engineering is as yet imprecise and what is worse, irreversible.
Further, such crops/foods are known to cause several adverse human and animal health impacts like allergies, impaired immune system, damage to organs like kidneys and liver, stunted growth and development, reproductive health problems and even inter-generational effects. Majority of countries around the world have disallowed GM crops for this reason. However, in India, due to lack of enough public awareness, the first GM food crop in the form of Bt Brinjal is reported to be close to our plates.
The ‘I AM NO LAB RAT’ Consumer Awareness and Mobilization Campaign is marking the eve of WORLD FOOD DAY (16th October) at Dilli Haat (near AIIMS), this Thursday, the 15th of October, from 3 PM to 8 PM. Our aim is to alert consumers about the imported foods which are laced with GM content but not labeled so, that illegally flood Indian markets.
We call upon all concerned and informed citizens to join us in reaching out to fellow Delhi’ites and ordinary consumers about this grave health and environmental issue. Those interested in volunteering, please contact Ankit at +91 9313537417 .
Please circulate widely.
Regards
Radha Kapuria
Campaign Coordinator, Delhi
'I AM NO LAB RAT' Campaign
Issued in public interest by I AM NO LAB RAT consumer campaign
Campaign Secretariat, A-124/6, 1st Floor, Katwaria Sarai, New Delhi 16. Telefax: 011-26517814
GM FOODS CAN HARM OUR HEALTH -
BOYCOTT THESE GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOODS!
HOW WOULD YOU LIKE IT if you are not told that your food has been fundamentally altered and you’re kept uninformed
about what’s the change in your food? Is it right that you are not given any choices with regard to what foods you would
like to eat or to avoid? How would you feel if you got to know that what you are eating is not exactly what you thought you
were eating? What about the possibility that the food that you are eating to sustain yourself could be the cause for many
adverse health conditions? All of these concerns are quite real, when it comes to GM foods.
In case you have not yet heard about GM Foods, these are foods made out of crops created unnaturally. In these crops, genes
from unrelated organisms like bacteria and viruses are being inserted into our food plants. For instance, in Bt Brinjal, which
is being sought to be introduced in India, a gene from a soil bacterium called Bacillus thurengiensis (Bt) has been inserted into
brinjal, so that the plant produces a poison from inside to kill some insects feeding on it. The agencies wanting to bring in
such a poisonous brinjal are assuring us that this will bring down the use of pesticides in farming. However, what they are
revealing is not the full truth. The insertion of these foreign genes into brinjal causes a lot of disruptions at the genomic level
that will lead to several health and environmental impacts in such GM foods. Also, this is an irreversible and uncontrollable
technology: when seeds are dispersed into the environment, they have a way to propagating themselves! We can’t recall
these plants even if we know that they are dangerous for us!
GM foods are now documented to cause a lot of adverse health impacts like allergies, impairing the immune system,
damaging liver, kidneys, pancreas etc., affecting the growth and metabolism, causing reproductive health problems
(infertility) and so on.
In the USA, genetically modified seeds of crops like SOYABEAN, CORN, CANOLA and COTTON have been introduced
and are being grown for several years now. This has been done there without adequate public debate and despite the fact
that repeated polls indicate that consumers prefer non-GM and organic foods. However, there is massive rejection of such
GM foods elsewhere in the world, including in Europe where aware and informed consumers are rejecting such foods.
These foods are now being pushed into India. In India, Bt Cotton has been approved for cultivation as the only GM crop
allowed so far. Further, GM soybean oil has been allowed to be imported into India. However, several foods that have been
manufactured and packaged in the USA/Canada/Argentina are being imported into India. These foods could potentially
have GM ingredients, if they have soy/corn/canola/cotton ingredients since there is no system of segregating GM foods from
non-GM foods or labeling of such foods in these countries. The following are some products to watch out for and avoid,
unless clearly labeled as NON-GM/ORGANIC:
A recent consumer campaign obtained assurances from some food brands in India that they’ll remain GM-Free while many
others have said that for now, they are GM-Free and some are not giving a clear assurance that they’ll not serve GM foods.
As an informed and educated citizen, be aware of what you are buying and eating. Given that there is no system of labeling
in India that allows consumers like you to make informed choices, let this little leaflet guide you towards GM-Free, safe
foods and away from such hazardous products.
THINK TWICE ABOUT WHAT YOU BUY & EAT!
REMEMBER: YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT!
Kraft Foods brand products from the US (breakfast cereals), American Garden brand products (salad
dressings, mayonnaise, popcorn, sauces etc.), Pringles brand (chips), Hershey’s brand syrups, Hudson’s
canola oil, Nature Valley brand granola bars, Pop Weaver brand (pop corn), Munch King brand (corn
chips), Isomil brand (soy infant formula) etc. These are products with soy/corn/canola/cotton
ingredients made in and imported from countries which produce GM soy, GM corn, GM canola & GM cotton
without segregation & labeling.
FOOD BRANDS THAT HAVE ASSURED TO REMAIN GM FREE, NOW AND IN FUTURE: MTR, RUCHI SOYA, BRITTANIA
BRANDS THAT ARE RIGHT NOW GM-FREE: PEPSI, ITC, DABUR, HALDIRAMS, SAFAL, BAMBINO, CADBURY’S,
BRANDS THAT ARE NOT PROVIDING ANY ASSURANCE: NESTLE, AGROTECH, BHARATI FIELDFRESH
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