Take Action: Demand producers go GM free in South Africa
In the absence of any credible, scientific evidence that the long-term consumption of GM foods is indeed safe for humans, we need to call on key actors in the food industry to stop using GM products.
By now you have read or at least heard about the study conducted by a team of French scientists, which looked at the long term health impacts of GM maize and glyphosate (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2012.08.005). This study highlights scientifically observed shortcomings in the far shorter and more limited study conducted by Monsanto when it obtained permission for the GM maize in SA, way back in 2002.
This GM maize is glyphosate tolerant (it is sprayed heavily with Monsanto’s Roundup weedkiller) and comprises 40 percent of the maize grown in SA. The French study has added to the concerns about the safety of GM foods and Roundup.
South African consumers are the only ones in the world eating GM maize as a staple food. GM maize is also extensively used in our processed food such as in breakfast cereals, baby food, corn chips, soft drinks, etc. A huge variety of additives, colourants and flavourants are made from maize, for example xanthum gum and dextrin.
In the absence of any credible, scientific evidence that the long-term consumption of GM foods is indeed safe for humans, we need to call on key actors in the food industry to stop using GM products.
We NEED to take action now! All you need to do is visit our website (http://www.acbio.org.za/activist/). You will find a tab in red on the left, click on that and it will open up to a ready email addressed to the main producers/retailers. A sample letter is also provided on the right, to assist you in drafting your own passionate letter. You are also free to copy and paste the sample letter and make whatever changes you may wish.