Right to Know Coos County...
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Right to Know Coos County is a grassroots effort to educate the public about the risks of genetically modified organisms in our food supply and the environmental ramifications of genetically modified crops.
Follow us on Twitter! @r2kCoosCounty
General Information
FAQs
What are GMOs?
GMOs, or “genetically modified organisms,” are plants or animals that have been genetically engineered with DNA from bacteria, viruses or other plants and animals. These experimental combinations of genes from different species cannot occur in nature or in traditional crossbreeding.
Virtually all commercial GMOs are engineered to withstand direct application of herbicide and/or to produce an insecticide. Despite biotech industry promises, none of the GMO traits currently on the market offer increased yield, drought tolerance, enhanced nutrition, or any other consumer benefit.
But GMO's have undergone safety testing, haven't they?
Because FDA determined that bioengineered foods should be regulated like their conventional counterparts, FDA has not to date established any regulations specific to bioengineered food.
The FDA has created “comprehensive guidance” to industry on those situations in which developers should specifically consult with FDA on issues such as labeling, design of appropriate test protocols, and whether a food additive petition would be required.
The FDA encourages developers to consult early in the development phase of their products, and as often as necessary. When a firm has accumulated the information that it believes is adequate to ensure that the product complies with the relevant provisions of the FD&C Act, the Agency recommends that the developer inform FDA about the bioengineered foods intended to be introduced into commercial distribution by providing a summary of the company's safety and nutritional assessment which Agency scientists review for unresolved safety or regulatory issues.
The safety and nutritional assessment summary should normally contain sufficient information for Agency scientists to understand the approach the firm has followed in identifying and addressing relevant issues. Some examples of this information would include:
The name of the food and the crop from which it is derived;
The uses of the food, including both human food and animal feed uses;
The sources, identities, and functions of introduced genetic material;
The purpose or intended technical effect of the modification and its expected effect on the composition or characteristic properties of the food or feed;
The identity and function of any new products encoded by the introduced genetic material, including an estimate of its concentration;
Comparison of the composition or characteristics of the bioengineered food to that of food derived from the parental variety or other commonly consumed varieties with special emphasis on important nutrients, anti-nutrients, and toxicants that occur naturally in the food;
Information on whether the genetic modification altered the potential for the bioengineered food to induce an allergic response; and,
Other information relevant to the safety and nutritional assessment of the bioengineered food.
It is important to note that all safety testing is done by the company wishing to market their product and not through any independent scientific evaluation. A Monsanto official told the New York Times that the corporation should not have to take responsibility for the safety of its food products. "Monsanto should not have to vouchsafe the safety of biotech food," said Phil Angell, Monsanto's director of corporate communications. "Our interest is in selling as much of it as possible. Assuring its safety is the FDA's job." Yet the FDA leaves the responsibility to biotechnology to provide safety testing.
Are GMOs labeled?
Unfortunately, even though polls consistently show that a significant majority of Americans want to know if the food they’re purchasing contains GMOs, the powerful biotech lobby has succeeded in keeping this information from the public
How common are GMOs?
In the U.S., GMOs are in as much as 80% of conventional processed food. According to the USDA, in 2009, 93% of soy, 93% of cotton, and 86% of corn grown in the U.S. were GMO. It is estimated that over 90% of canola grown is GMO, and there are also commercially produced GM varieties of sugar beets, squash and Hawaiian Papaya. As a result, it is estimated that GMOs are now present in more than 80% of packaged products in the average U.S. or Canadian grocery store. Corn and soy are used to make many preservatives and additives that dominate the processed food market, including: Amino Acids, Aspartame, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Ascorbate, Vitamin C, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Ethanol, Flavorings (“natural” and “artificial”), High-Fructose Corn Syrup, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Lactic Acid, Maltodextrins, Molasses, Monosodium Glutamate, Sucrose, Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP), Xanthan Gum, Vitamins, Yeast Products.
Are Gmos present in the world’s food supply, or just here in the U.S.?
61 countries with over 40% of the world’s population already label genetically engineered foods, including the entire European Union, Russia, China, India, and Australia. Additionally, many countries outright ban the cultivation of such crops.
What are the impacts of GMOs on the environment?
Over 80% of all GMOs grown worldwide are engineered for herbicide tolerance. As a result, use of toxic herbicides like Roundup has increased 15 times since GMOs were introduced. GMO crops are also responsible for the emergence of “super weeds” and “super bugs:’ which can only be killed with ever more toxic poisons like 2,4-D (a major ingredient in Agent Orange). GMOs are a direct extension of chemical agriculture, and are developed and sold by the world’s biggest chemical companies. The long-term impacts of GMOs are unknown, and once released into the environment these novel organisms cannot be recalled.
GMOs have also been implicated in the worldwide die off of bees. Poland is the first country to formally acknowledge the link between Monsanto's genetically engineered corn and the Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) that's been devastating bees around the world, but it's likely that Monsanto has known the danger their GMOs posed to bees all along.
“If the bee disappeared off the face of the earth, man would only have four years left to live.”
― Albert Einstein
How do GMOs affect farmers?
Because GMOs are novel life forms, biotechnology companies have been able to obtain patents with which to restrict their use. As a result, the companies that make GMOs now have the power to sue farmers whose fields are contaminated with GMOs, even when it is the result of inevitable drift from neighboring fields. GMOs therefore pose a serious threat to farmer sovereignty and to the national food security of any country where they are grown, including the United States. Several counties in Oregon alone are attempting to ban the cultivation of such crops in attempt to protect traditional species and are being fought by our state government.
How can I avoid GMOs?
In the absence of mandatory labeling there are several ways to ensure you are eliminating or limiting your consumption of GMOs including buying organic or non-GMO verified products. There are also smartphone apps such as Non-GMO Project verified, BuyCott, and Nxtnutrio to assist you in avoiding such products. Click here for a current list from Non-GMO Project Verified http://www.nongmoproject.org/find-non-gmo/search-participating-products/
We are currently working on increasing the pressure on our elected officials and bringing a voter’s initiative to the ballot to put the power back into the hands of the people.
How can I help?
Like us on Facebook! Send us a message and tell us whether you would like to be added to our list of organizers or notified of future Right to Know Coos County events such as demonstrations, film screenings, and education.
Please contact your Oregon House Representative and tell them to vote NO on SB633!
Support Senator Jeff Merkley in his effort to repeal the Monsanto Protection Act.
Right to Know Coos County is a grassroots effort to educate the public about the risks of genetically modified organisms in our food supply and the environmental ramifications of genetically modified crops.
Follow us on Twitter! @r2kCoosCounty
General Information
FAQs
What are GMOs?
GMOs, or “genetically modified organisms,” are plants or animals that have been genetically engineered with DNA from bacteria, viruses or other plants and animals. These experimental combinations of genes from different species cannot occur in nature or in traditional crossbreeding.
Virtually all commercial GMOs are engineered to withstand direct application of herbicide and/or to produce an insecticide. Despite biotech industry promises, none of the GMO traits currently on the market offer increased yield, drought tolerance, enhanced nutrition, or any other consumer benefit.
But GMO's have undergone safety testing, haven't they?
Because FDA determined that bioengineered foods should be regulated like their conventional counterparts, FDA has not to date established any regulations specific to bioengineered food.
The FDA has created “comprehensive guidance” to industry on those situations in which developers should specifically consult with FDA on issues such as labeling, design of appropriate test protocols, and whether a food additive petition would be required.
The FDA encourages developers to consult early in the development phase of their products, and as often as necessary. When a firm has accumulated the information that it believes is adequate to ensure that the product complies with the relevant provisions of the FD&C Act, the Agency recommends that the developer inform FDA about the bioengineered foods intended to be introduced into commercial distribution by providing a summary of the company's safety and nutritional assessment which Agency scientists review for unresolved safety or regulatory issues.
The safety and nutritional assessment summary should normally contain sufficient information for Agency scientists to understand the approach the firm has followed in identifying and addressing relevant issues. Some examples of this information would include:
The name of the food and the crop from which it is derived;
The uses of the food, including both human food and animal feed uses;
The sources, identities, and functions of introduced genetic material;
The purpose or intended technical effect of the modification and its expected effect on the composition or characteristic properties of the food or feed;
The identity and function of any new products encoded by the introduced genetic material, including an estimate of its concentration;
Comparison of the composition or characteristics of the bioengineered food to that of food derived from the parental variety or other commonly consumed varieties with special emphasis on important nutrients, anti-nutrients, and toxicants that occur naturally in the food;
Information on whether the genetic modification altered the potential for the bioengineered food to induce an allergic response; and,
Other information relevant to the safety and nutritional assessment of the bioengineered food.
It is important to note that all safety testing is done by the company wishing to market their product and not through any independent scientific evaluation. A Monsanto official told the New York Times that the corporation should not have to take responsibility for the safety of its food products. "Monsanto should not have to vouchsafe the safety of biotech food," said Phil Angell, Monsanto's director of corporate communications. "Our interest is in selling as much of it as possible. Assuring its safety is the FDA's job." Yet the FDA leaves the responsibility to biotechnology to provide safety testing.
Are GMOs labeled?
Unfortunately, even though polls consistently show that a significant majority of Americans want to know if the food they’re purchasing contains GMOs, the powerful biotech lobby has succeeded in keeping this information from the public
How common are GMOs?
In the U.S., GMOs are in as much as 80% of conventional processed food. According to the USDA, in 2009, 93% of soy, 93% of cotton, and 86% of corn grown in the U.S. were GMO. It is estimated that over 90% of canola grown is GMO, and there are also commercially produced GM varieties of sugar beets, squash and Hawaiian Papaya. As a result, it is estimated that GMOs are now present in more than 80% of packaged products in the average U.S. or Canadian grocery store. Corn and soy are used to make many preservatives and additives that dominate the processed food market, including: Amino Acids, Aspartame, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Ascorbate, Vitamin C, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Ethanol, Flavorings (“natural” and “artificial”), High-Fructose Corn Syrup, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Lactic Acid, Maltodextrins, Molasses, Monosodium Glutamate, Sucrose, Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP), Xanthan Gum, Vitamins, Yeast Products.
Are Gmos present in the world’s food supply, or just here in the U.S.?
61 countries with over 40% of the world’s population already label genetically engineered foods, including the entire European Union, Russia, China, India, and Australia. Additionally, many countries outright ban the cultivation of such crops.
What are the impacts of GMOs on the environment?
Over 80% of all GMOs grown worldwide are engineered for herbicide tolerance. As a result, use of toxic herbicides like Roundup has increased 15 times since GMOs were introduced. GMO crops are also responsible for the emergence of “super weeds” and “super bugs:’ which can only be killed with ever more toxic poisons like 2,4-D (a major ingredient in Agent Orange). GMOs are a direct extension of chemical agriculture, and are developed and sold by the world’s biggest chemical companies. The long-term impacts of GMOs are unknown, and once released into the environment these novel organisms cannot be recalled.
GMOs have also been implicated in the worldwide die off of bees. Poland is the first country to formally acknowledge the link between Monsanto's genetically engineered corn and the Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) that's been devastating bees around the world, but it's likely that Monsanto has known the danger their GMOs posed to bees all along.
“If the bee disappeared off the face of the earth, man would only have four years left to live.”
― Albert Einstein
How do GMOs affect farmers?
Because GMOs are novel life forms, biotechnology companies have been able to obtain patents with which to restrict their use. As a result, the companies that make GMOs now have the power to sue farmers whose fields are contaminated with GMOs, even when it is the result of inevitable drift from neighboring fields. GMOs therefore pose a serious threat to farmer sovereignty and to the national food security of any country where they are grown, including the United States. Several counties in Oregon alone are attempting to ban the cultivation of such crops in attempt to protect traditional species and are being fought by our state government.
How can I avoid GMOs?
In the absence of mandatory labeling there are several ways to ensure you are eliminating or limiting your consumption of GMOs including buying organic or non-GMO verified products. There are also smartphone apps such as Non-GMO Project verified, BuyCott, and Nxtnutrio to assist you in avoiding such products. Click here for a current list from Non-GMO Project Verified http://www.nongmoproject.org/find-non-gmo/search-participating-products/
We are currently working on increasing the pressure on our elected officials and bringing a voter’s initiative to the ballot to put the power back into the hands of the people.
How can I help?
Like us on Facebook! Send us a message and tell us whether you would like to be added to our list of organizers or notified of future Right to Know Coos County events such as demonstrations, film screenings, and education.
Please contact your Oregon House Representative and tell them to vote NO on SB633!
Support Senator Jeff Merkley in his effort to repeal the Monsanto Protection Act.
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