Minneapolis Passes Strong Anti-GE Pro-Organic Food Resolution

Minneapolis City Council Passes Resolution in Support of Federal
Legislation to Require Safety Testing and Labeling for GE Foods & to Give
Preference to Organic Products for City Contracts

This is the strongest anti-GE pro-organic resolution passed so far in the
United States. The Organic Consumers Association has spearheaded the effort
to get the reolution passed, while the Minnesota Biotechnology Organization
(MN BIO) has worked hard to try to get Minneapolis Mayor Sharon
Sayles-Belton to oppose it. MN BIO members include: Cargill, Eli Lilly &
Co., Novartis, Pharmacia & Upjohn (Monsanto), Pioneer Hi-Bred (Dupont),
Ortho-Biotech, Northern States Power, Minnesota Dept. of Trade & Economic
Development.

Minneapolis, Minnesota City Council Meeting
August 25, 2000 Resolution 2000R-396
Sponsored by City Council Representatives

Urging the City of Minneapolis to include certified organic food vendors as
an option in contract negotiations and to urge the federal government to
label and test genetically engineered (g.e.) foods as well as to assign
liability to the commercial developers of g.e. technology.

Whereas, consumers of any food product have the right to complete confidence
and thorough knowledge of any ingredient in their food or other products;
and Whereas, genetically engineered (g.e.) foods have not been adequately
tested by any federal agency for long-term impacts on human health of the
environment; and Whereas, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suggests
only that companies engineering foods state that g.e. foods are safe, but
requires no further testing; and

Whereas, numerous bioengineers and related distinguished scientists have
gone on record stating this technology clearly is different from traditional
breeding methods and is highly probable to exhibit a host of undesirable
health and environmental risk factors; and

Whereas, competent scientific researchers have suggested that g.e. foods,
seed, and other products could pose risks to the environment, including
damaged soil ecology, harmful effects to wildlife, increased use of farm
chemicals, and other potential effects; and

Whereas, scientists and other researchers have indicated that g.e. crops may
harm beneficial insect species, such as Monarch butterflies, as well as
threatened and endangered insect species; and

Whereas, g.e. materials could have serious impacts on levels of toxins in
food, antibiotic resistance, cancer, immuno-suppression, and allergic
reactions, and may be particularly threatening to children and the elderly;
and

Whereas, in the event of a serious health impact and an ensuing lawsuit, the
federal government has not yet assigned liability to the commercial
developers of g.e. foods; and

Whereas, g.e. foods are growing in prevalence in the United States and
around the world, without sufficient regulation or research; and

Whereas, many community organizations, representing farmers and sustainable
agriculture interests, as well as consumers, environmentalists and others,
have argued for a moratorium on g.e. foods (http://www.gefoodalert.org), and
some countries have effectively 'if not officially' instituted a moratorium,
including France, Italy, Denmark, Greece, and Luxembourg; and

Whereas, the European Commission has agreed on terms to guarantee the
labeling of g.e. foods;

Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved by The City Council of The City of
Minneapolis:

That the City Council of Minneapolis formally state to the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and United
States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that all g.e. foods should be
labeled clearly, that all g.e. material should be thoroughly researched and
regulated, that liability should be assigned to the commercial developers of
g.e. foods, and that, until these materials are proven safe, that the FDA,
the EPA, and the USDA should establish a moratorium on these products.

Be It Further Resolved that the Minneapolis City Council endorses House
Bills 3883 named the 'ÄúGenetically Engineered Food Safety Act,'Äù and 3377 and
its companion Senate Bill 2080 named the 'ÄúGenetically Engineered Food
Right-to-Know Act.'Äù

Be It Further Resolved that the City Council urges that all City departments
and agencies include certified organic food vendors as an option during any
and all contract negotiations.

Be It Further Resolved that the City Council urges that, by January of 2001,
special events held by City departments and City agencies include caterers
that avoid g.e. ingredients and use certified organic foods and Minnesota
Grown organic foods as an option.

Be It Further Resolved that the City Council urges the Minneapolis School
District to consider offering certified organic lunches as an option.

Adapted. Yeas, 11; Nays, 1 as follows:

Yeas Colvin Roy, McDonald, Mead, Lane, Herron, Thurber, Ostrow, Campbell,
Niland, Goodman, Cherryhomes.

Nays Johnson.

Absent Biernat.

Passed August 25, 2000. J. Cherryhomes, President of Council.

Approved August 31, 2000. S. Sayles Belton. Mayor.