Permaculture Out West

Posts Tagged ‘gm foods’

Although up to 70% of processed food contains ingredients derived from GM, labelling loopholes mean almost none of it is labelled.

The Federal Government is reviewing the Food Labelling Standards. Details here:

*             http://www.madge.org.au/foodlabelling.php

*             http://www.madge.org.au/GM-labelling-review-2009.html

The Panel received over 6,000 submissions in the first round. Now as part of the consultation process, they will be holding a meeting in Melbourne on Thursday 29th April.

You can register to attend either the morning or afternoon sessions by following this link:

http://www.foodlabellingreview.gov.au/internet/foodlabelling/publishing.nsf/Content/foodlabelreview_reg_melb

The morning sessions will begin at approx 8.30 am and run for 3 hours.The venue for the meeting and the exact times have not been announced, but will be on the MADGE website and facebook as soon as they are.

You may prefer to join us outside from 8 am onwards where we will ask : “Why are we eating in the dark ?” Bring a blindfold and a food product that MAY contain a GM ingredient. We want to know for sure!

Watching TV tonight? Lateline on ABC at 10.30am is about GM crops, food and patenting – http://www.abc.net.au/news/events/gene-wars/. If you miss this in the evening, it can be watched online on the ABC as well. The ABC is also running a series on food security entitled ‘Hunger Pains: feeding the big Australia’ well worth a look http://www.abc.net.au/news/events/hunger-pains/

Happy Eating

Love

Madge http://www.madge.org.au

Will afternoon tea at the AGM be GM-free?

New source of genetic pollution found
01 October 2009

This morning, Greenpeace set up a mobile Biohazard Research Centre at a GE canola field near Geelong, southern Victoria. What did we find? Commercial beehives contaminated with genetically engineered (GE) canola pollen.

Honey samples were collected from hives just metres away from a GE canola field and were found to contain Monsanto’s Roundup Ready canola pollen. This means people buying honey from this hive will be eating GE food without knowing it, and before it’s been properly assessed as safe to eat. The GE canola farmer is not obliged to inform his neighbours about what he is growing, so the beekeeper has been kept as much in the dark as everyone else.

This follows the recent discovery of GE canola growing along roadside verges near Berrigan, New South Wales and Horsham, Victoria. » Read more

South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia still have crop bans in place.
Why is Greenpeace doing this?
From the research centre, Greenpeace will monitor wind speed and pollen flow onsite to determine how far pollen from the GE canola crop is likely to spread.

Greenpeace is taking action to draw attention to GE canola being approcved for release in Australia under the Howard Government, without proper studies into the impacts on human health or the environment. Roundup Ready canola has been shown to have adverse effects on livers in Monsanto’s own rat-feeding studies. It’s also been banned in Europe.(1)

As federal Health Minister, Nicola Roxon needs to step in and ensure indpendent proof that GE crops and foods are safe “beyond reasonable doubt”. This is what the ALP promised at the 2007 federal election.

We also need biodiversity studies to examine the impact these new crops and farming techniques have on surrounding plants, insects and animals.
Farmers, chefs and community visit the centre
Local farmers and community members joined Greenpeace at the research station to protest the spread of GE canola. Organic farmer Evan hardy says, “I’m concerned that the introduction of GE crops will remove choice for all farmers. GE contamination will lead to the increasing domination of agriculture by large chemical companies and an increased reliance on toxic herbicides.”

Melbourne restauranteur, Duré Dara, has come to the centre to express her concerns. “We need our governments to be more responsible and to think about genetically engineered food in a much more considered way. Food protection is an issue that affects tourism, our global image and the health of our citizens.”

Ms Dara co-manages the Nudel Bar and Residential restaurants, and is one of close to 200 leading chefs and restauranteurs who have signed the GM-free Chefs’ Charter.
Take action
Use this online form to ask Nicola Roxon to ensure that:
GE crops are only approved if they are proven to be safe ‘beyond reasonable doubt’; and
All GE foods are clearly labelled.
Reference
(1) Eating in the Dark: How Australia’s food regulator is failing us on genetically engineered food, p 22.
Other News
30 Sep 2009:
On patrol for wild GE canola

24 Sep 2009:
Which oils are at risk and which are GE-free?

18 Sep 2009:
Do you want GE in your beer?
Upcoming events
22 Oct 2009:
Hungry for Change: Shaping food policies that are fair and sustainable

14 Oct 2009:
Out of the Frying Pan: Free Public Forum