Know Your Food LabelsShalom and welcome to Tikkun Tips. A bi-weekly nugget of eco-Jewish thought from your friends at the Teva Learning Center. Thanks to Saran Kirschbaum for this info.
Here’s the situation. You are standing in the produce isle of your local supermarket, shopping list in hand, and you are frozen, mesmerized by the bright lights, colorful fruit pyramids and the instrumental music playing in the background. You know you are supposed buy some apples, but you’re not sure what kind. You spot the “Organic” section, most easily recognized by the earth-tone, hand-written signs, so you head over there. But alas, you are still confused by the variety of fruit, country of origin, and those numbers on the stickers that seem to be some sort of universal secret language for grocers.
Well, it’s time the general public was able to make as much use out of those stickers as grocers have in the past. It’s time that Tikkun Tips’ loyal readers know how to empower themselves and make informed decisions from the depths of the bright lights, crisp air and overly friendly employees of the neighborhood supermarket.
Writers in the July issue of Sunset Magazine shed some light on what those codes generally stand for:
1. Conventionally grown: 4 digit code
2. Organically grown: # 9 precedes basic code
3. Genetically modified produce: # 8 precedes basic code
While most markets make it pretty obvious which produce is organic, it sometimes is more of a challenge to know what is genetically modified and what isn’t. That’s where this information can come in handy. One thing to keep in mind is that, by definition, organic foods CANNOT be genetically modified. Additionally, companies are not required to inform the consumer if their products contain GM ingredients.
Why is this a problem? The dangers and safety of GM food are not yet fully understood. Until then, consumers should have the right to know if they are purchasing genetically modified food or not. In a statement Congressman Bernie Sanders (I-VT) made in several years ago, he explained that, “GMO foods make up a growing percentage of our national food supply. All told, more than 50% of U.S.-produced soybeans are genetically engineered, more than 30% of U.S.-produced corn is grown from genetically engineered seeds and overall more than 25% of total U.S. cropland grows genetically engineered crops. In all, 50 genetically engineered crops have been approved by the USDA for marketing in the United States.” (Source: House of Representatives)
On February 22, 2000, Senator Barbara Boxer(D-CA) introduced in the United States Senate the Genetically Engineered Food Right-to-Know Act. It currently is pending consideration. You can help push this act along by contacting your representatives.
Signing off…Nati Passow
Teva Learning Center
307 7th Ave Suite #900
New York, NY 10001
teva@tevacenter.org
www.tevacenter.org
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Want More?
For more information about the dangers of GM food and the fight to require adequate labeling, check out The Campaign and Dennis Kucinich’s Action page.
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