Press Releases: Genetically Engineered Food

Media Statement: We applaud Senators Boxer and DeFazio for standing up to the pressure of the agrochemical industry and listening to the groundswell of grassroots support to label genetically engineered food by introducing their bipartisan legislation today.

Press Release: Today, Senator Joe Bolkcom introduced a bill, Senate File 194, that would require labeling of genetically engineered (GE) foods in Iowa. The legislation was drafted with the support of consumer advocacy group Food & Water Watch and is strongly supported by many national and local organizations and individuals including food cooperatives, organic farmers, environmentalists and food justice proponents.

Press release: This week State Senator Peter Wirth (D-Santa Fe-25) pre-filed a proposed amendment to the New Mexico Food Act to require the labeling of genetically engineered food and feed.

The city of Cincinnati became the first in Ohio to pass a resolution to call for the labeling of genetically engineered (GE) foods, citing that consumers should have the right to know what is in their food. The consumer advocacy organization Food & Water Watch brought the resolution to City Council as a part of their “Let Me Decide” campaign to make GE labeling the law. GE foods have not been fully tested for their impacts on human health and the environment.

Press Release: Consumer Advocates for Safe Food and Water’s series of PSAs has received nearly 250,000 online views combined since launching on Oct. 15. The overwhelmingly positive response led to a generous outpouring of individual donations to help expand the videos’ reach further.

Press Release: A witty, ironic public service announcement was released today by Consumer Advocates for Safe Food and Water, sponsored by Food & Water Watch, in support of Proposition 37, California’s ballot initiative to label genetically engineered foods.

Press Release: Over 140 groups and more than 365,000 citizens from across the country are urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to reject a Dow Chemical application seeking approval of a controversial genetically engineered (GE) corn that is resistant to the hazardous herbicide 2,4-D. In addition to the public comments, 143 farm, environmental, health, fisheries groups and companies will submit a letter to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack expressing their overwhelming opposition to this crop. The comments and letter will be submitted when USDA’s public comment period ends this Friday, April 27.

Press Release: From domestication of the blueberry to tools to combat soil erosion, land-grant universities have revolutionized American agriculture for general public benefit almost entirely through public investments from state and federal governments. However, a report released by Food & Water Watch today finds that by 2010, nearly a quarter of funding for agricultural research at land-grant universities came from private and corporate donations.

“The original intent that public research should benefit the public has been completely lost and this conflict of interest between public good and private profits remains largely unchallenged by both academia and policymakers,” said Wenonah Hauter, executive director of Food & Water Watch. “Sound agricultural policy requires impartial and unbiased scientific inquiry, but like nearly every aspect of our modern food system, land-grant school funding has been overrun by narrow private interests.”