US-food rights

[Shannon Nelson]

Some more about "food rights".
The House has decided we don't have the right to know what we're
eating, and only the Feds are qualified to decide what we should know
about our food. Next the Senate gets to vote--write and tell them your
opinion! See article below.

ORGANIC BYTES #77
Health, Justice and Sustainability News Tidbits with an Edge!

3/14/2006

Subscribe to this Bi-weekly Email Newsletter:
http://www.organicconsumers.org/organicbytes.htm

Written and edited by Craig Minowa and Ronnie Cummins

IN THIS ISSUE
YOUR FOOD

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photo parody

CONGRESS BLINDFOLDS CONSUMERS- REMOVING RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT'S IN YOUR
FOOD
On March 8, despite massive public opposition, including 50,000 calls
and letters from supporters of the Organic Consumers Association, the
House of Representatives passed the controversial "national food
uniformity" labeling law, which would eliminate over 200 state food
safety labeling laws. The law basically takes away local government
and states' power to require food safety labels such as those required
in California and other states on foods or beverages that are likely
to cause cancer, birth defects, allergic reactions, or mercury
poisoning. The bill would also prevent local municipalities and states
from passing laws requiring that genetically engineered foods and
ingredients be labeled. Under the bill, hundreds of state laws and
regulations would be eliminated, including those relating to the
safety of milk, fish, and shellfish. In order to become law, the bill
will now have to go to the Senate for a vote. Because of the enormous
public backlash against the bill, Washington analysts believe the bill
will have great difficulty passing in the Senate. OCA and other public
interest organizations have vowed to go "all out" to stop this
anti-democratic, anti-consumer bill in the Senate. Take action here:
http://www.organicconsumers.org/rd/labeling.cfm

FACT OF THE WEEK
In the 2006 election cycle, big agribusiness has already given
$14,562,681 in campaign contributions to members of Congress.

Source: http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus.asp?Ind=A

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U.S. VOTES AGAINST 132 NATIONS ON GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOOD
Biotech corporations are facing off against developing nations and
most of the world this week in Brazil in a debate over the United
Nation's Biosafety Protocol. The precedent-setting treaty is an
international agreement signed in January 2000 by 132 of the world's
nations. But the three main countries that grow genetically modified
crops (the United States, Argentina and Canada) refuse to sign it,
because the international law would require that countries be notified
if the grains they are importing are genetically modified. Biotech
companies want that language removed from the treaty, saying that
developing nations and anti-GMO consumers in industrialized nations
are not entitled to know whether their food is genetically engineered
or not.
http://www.organicconsumers.org/ge/goliath060313.cfm

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QUICK BIODEMOCRACY TIDBITS
Congressman Dennis Kucinich is expected to soon reintroduce the
Genetically Engineered Food Right to Know Act, which would require
mandatory labeling of Genetically Engineered (GE) foods. Please send
a letter to Congress and let them know you want GE foods labeled.
motivational house parties utilizing The GMO Trilogy, a new DVD and CD
set produced by bestselling author and biotech critic Jeffrey Smith.
Get involved here: http://organicconsumers.org/ge-free.htm
sure you call your Congressperson! Tell them you want safety testing
and labels on all genetically engineered foods and ingredients,
similar to laws already in place in Europe and many other countries.
Learn more: http://organicconsumers.org/ge-free.htm

[snipped some]

ORGANIC BYTES is a publication of:
ORGANIC CONSUMERS ASSOCIATION
6771 South Silver Hill Drive
Finland, MN 55603
Phone: (218)- 226-4164 Fax: (218) 353-7652

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