For related articles and more information, please visit OCA’s Genetic Engineering page and our Millions Against Monsanto page.

WASHINGTON – October 27 – In response to Monsanto’s release of the company’s first genetically engineered sweet corn for human consumption, a coalition has collected more than 264,000 petition signatures from consumers who refuse to purchase the corn and are asking retailers and food processors to reject it. Today the coalition, including the Center for Environmental Health, Center for Food Safety, CREDO Action, Food Democracy Now!, and Food & Water Watch, announced that they have delivered the signed petition to 10 of the top national retail grocery stores including Wal-Mart, Kroger and Safeway, and top canned and frozen corn processors including Bird’s Eye and Del Monte.

Two major national food companies, General Mills and Trader Joe’s, have already indicated that they will not be using the Monsanto GE sweet corn in their products, according to replies the companies sent to a request from the Center for Environmental Health.

“The overwhelming number of people who have signed this petition once again reiterates the fact that consumers don’t want genetically engineered food on their plates,” said Wenonah Hauter, Executive Director of Food & Water Watch. “Consumers should be outraged that as early as next year, GE sweet corn in cans, frozen and fresh off the cob could show up in grocery stores across the country and we will have no way of telling it apart from other corn.”