Archives: Press Releases

BRUSSELS – As a conversation starter on the EU’s 2030 climate and energy policies, the European Commission attempts to reconcile polar opposites: The Green Paper highlights the EU as “a frontrunner in clean and more energy-efficient technologies, products and services”, while simultaneously claiming “a need to enable the future exploitation of indigenous oil and gas resources, both conventional and unconventional […]”. The Green Paper fails to explain how these two elements could co-exist. Furthermore, the European Commission buys into the current hype about shale gas in in Europe, by linking low energy prices and reduced imports to unconventional fossil fuels. Such wishful thinking completely ignores the reality that the geological knowledge in Europe about shale is in its infancy. With only a couple of dozen exploratory wells drilled across the EU, reserving a significant role for shale gas in Europe is premature.

“The Commission’s consultation asks the wrong question of how the EU can best exploit unconventional resources. Before answering how, the Commission should looked past the hype about shale gas and asked the question if shale gas could contribute to the EU’s 2030 climate and energy objectives”, said Food & Water Europe policy officer Geert De Cock. “Looking at the amount of drilling and investment that would be required to deliver a significant portion of the EU’s energy mix from shale and the absence of an adequate regulatory framework, the EU will quickly realize that it cannot frack its way to decarbonisation”.

Food & Water Europe holds that European governments are putting the cart before the horse, by allowing exploration and extraction to go ahead without a detailed analysis of the risk and negative impacts of large-scale shale gas activities. Until all the climate, environmental and health impacts are adequately addressed, we believe that no further shale gas and other unconventional gas activities should proceed. We call on all Member States to suspend all ongoing activities, to abrogate permits, and to place a ban on any new projects, whether exploration or exploitation.

Bipartisan Legislation Would Require Disclosure of Genetically Altered Ingredients Currently Found in Most Processed Foods

Harrisburg, Pa. – A broad coalition of consumer, environmental, labor, farming, faith and business organizations announced the launch today of a statewide campaign to pass legislation requiring the labeling of genetically engineered (GE) foods in Pennsylvania. The coalition was joined by State Senator Daylin Leach, co-sponsor of a GE labeling bill that was introduced in the legislature this week with bipartisan support.

Since their introduction to the market more than a decade ago there has been an explosion of GE foods on the shelves of grocery stores. Inadequate testing of these products by government agencies and a reliance on industry-produced health and safety data has resulted in a growing GE labeling movement among consumers across the nation.

“I’ve introduced this bill not to ban genetically engineered foods, but to allow consumers to take control of which items they purchase. I believe it is every consumer’s right to know what ingredients are found in the products they buy,” Sen. Daylin Leach said. “We can find out how much fat and sodium are in our food, with a full list of ingredients and nutritional information on every box, but we are not informed about the inclusion of ingredients that could be potentially detrimental to our health and wellness.”

“As food production technology evolves, so should our food labeling. Consumers have a right to know which products on market shelves contain genetically engineered ingredients, just like their right to know calorie counts and salt content,” said Sam Bernhardt, statewide organizer with Food & Water Watch. “Whole Foods just announced they would label GE foods by 2018, but we can set the safety bar higher by doing it here and now.”

Labeling GE foods is not a novel idea. The European Union specifically addresses the new properties and risks of biotech crops by requiring all food, animal feed and processed products with GE contents to bear labels. The EU is among nearly 50 developed countries that require the GE products they import from the United States to be labeled. Furthermore, a 2012 Mellman Group study showed that 91% of US voters favored GE labeling requirements.

“The American consumer has woken up in the last few years and feels unnerved by the smokescreen surrounding our food supply. The demand for transparency is peaking and the GE labeling movement is a reflection of this,” said Zofia Hausman of GMO-Free PA. “This is simply about our fundamental right to know what is in our food and the freedom to choose.”

“Consumers today are better educated and more savvy about issues related to food. They want to know where it comes from, how it is produced, and what’s been added to it along the way to their dinner tables,” said Brian Snyder, Executive Director of Pennsylvania Association of Sustainable Agriculture (PASA). “Farmers are also benefitting from such transparency in the food system. They want labels to reflect the truth about food.”

“While there are as many reasons for joining a co-op as there are people who join them, there’s one thing that co-op consumers, and all consumers, have in common: they care about what they eat. That’s why co-ops care about GE labeling; our members, our shoppers and all shoppers have a right to know what they are eating,” said Jon McGoran, Communications Director for Weavers Way Co-op.

“Genetically engineered food is a major threat to the family farm. Organic and sustainable farming methods can feed the world and will make it a healthier place to live and work. I want GE foods off my farms and out of my food, and this legislation will help accomplish that,” said organic farmer Roman Stoltzfoos of Spring Wood Dairy.

Contact: Seth Gladstone, sgladstone(at)fwwatch(dot)org, 718.943.8063

Tallahassee, Fla.—Representative Michelle Rehwinkel-Vasilinda and Senator Maria Lorts Sachs have introduced bills in the Florida House and Senate that would require labeling of genetically engineered (GE) foods in Florida. The legislation was drafted with the support of consumer advocacy group Food & Water Watch and is strongly supported by a diverse coalition of over 200 organizations and businesses in Florida including the Sierra Club Florida Chapter, Florida Farmworkers Association, Global Organics and Florida Right to Know.

If passed, HB 1233 and S 1728 would require labeling for all foods containing more than one percent GE ingredients. This includes plants altered in a laboratory with foreign genetic material to create novel genetic combinations and exhibit traits that do not occur in nature. Since most processed foods contain some derivative of GE corn, soybean or cotton, they would require labeling under this law.

Although health risks associated with eating GE products are not fully understood, these altered foods have become pervasive within our food system since they first became available in 1996. Companies submit their own safety testing data and independent research is limited because biotechnology companies prohibit cultivation for research purposes.

Labeling GE foods is not a novel idea. The European Union specifically addresses the new properties and risks of biotech crops, requiring all food, animal feed and processed products with GE content to bear labels. In fact, the EU is among nearly 50 developed countries that require the GE products they import from the U.S. to be labeled. Furthermore, a 2012 Mellman Group Study showed that 91 percent of U.S. voters favored having the U.S. Food and Drug Administration require labels on GE foods and ingredients.

HB 1233 and S 1728 will be considered by the Legislature over the coming months and can be viewed at: http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=50569 and http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2013/1728

Contact: Lynna Kaucheck, Food & Water Watch, [email protected], 586-556-8805

Bipartisan Legislation Would Require Disclosure of Genetically Altered Ingredients Currently Found in Most Processed Foods

Trenton, NJ – A broad coalition of consumer, environmental, labor, student, health, farming, faith and business organizations announced the launch today of a statewide campaign to pass legislation requiring the labeling of genetically engineered (GE) foods in New Jersey. The coalition presented a letter from more than 30 state advocacy organizations calling on legislative leaders to move a GE labeling bill through the legislature. Related legislation, A3192/S1367, has already been co-sponsored by a bipartisan group of a dozen lawmakers in the Senate and Assembly.

Since their introduction to the market more than a decade ago there has been an explosion of GE foods on the shelves of grocery stores. Inadequate testing of these products by government agencies and a reliance on industry-produced health and safety data has resulted in a growing GE labeling movement among consumers across the nation.

“Over the years, consumers have fought for labeling of calorie counts, saturated fat content and ingredients lists so they can make smarter, healthier choices for their families,” said Jim Walsh, Regional Director of Food & Water Watch. “But as food production technology evolves, so should our food labeling. Consumers have a right to know which products on market shelves contain genetically engineered ingredients.”

Labeling GE foods is not a novel idea. The European Union specifically addresses the new properties and risks of biotech crops by requiring all food, animal feed and processed products with GE contents to bear labels. The EU is among nearly 50 developed countries that require the GE products they import from the United States to be labeled. Furthermore, a 2012 Mellman Group study showed that 91% of US voters favored GE labeling requirements.

“Without the labeling of genetically engineered foods we are all guinea pigs in a giant experiment launched by the biotech industry without our knowledge or consent,” said Julia Lawlor, steering committee member of Slow Food Northern NJ.

“Just as we label food with nutritional facts and allergy warnings, we should label foods that are genetically engineered,” said Amanda Nesheiwat, Chair of NJ Sustainable Collegiate Partners. “The environmental and health risks tied to genetically engineered foods are reason enough not to give corporations the power to dictate the decisions that consumers should make on their own.”

“The public has a right to know what is in their food, just like labeling for whether there is high fructose corn syrup, organic materials or preservatives in our food,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of NJ Sierra Club. “Many people have concerns about genetically modified foods and others do not – it should be up to them to make that choice. We need hearings on this bill before the Senate and Assembly Health Committees as soon as possible.”

“We strongly urge the legislature to support the bill to label genetically engineered products. Consumers have the right to know the ingredients in the food they purchase,” said Lucia Huebner, Vice President of the Northeast Organic Farmers Association of NJ. “We are very concerned about issues such as cross contamination of seeds, integrity of agricultural ecosystems, protection of native pollinators and the wellbeing of farmers.”

“With absolutely no authority and no consent of the governed, a handful of human beings have claimed the right to reengineer life, patent their inventions and bully people to accept it without knowledge or consent,” said Sister Miriam MacGillis, Director of Genesis Farms. “Members of the Senate and Assembly Health Committees have the responsibility to safeguard our fundamental right to know and choose what we eat.

Contact: Seth Gladstone, sgladstone(at)fwwatch(dot)org, 718.943.8063