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Frequently Asked Questions about Shaw’s/Star Market and GE ingredients
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Q:
Why are you targeting Shaw’s?
A:
Shaw’s claims to care about food quality, yet they continue to use untested,
unwanted genetically engineered (GE) ingredients in their store brand
products. They have heard from thousands of concerned consumers about
this issue, and have also ignored requests by several environmental and
consumer groups to meet with them. Most European supermarkets, and in
the US, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods and Wild Oats, have already committed
to removing GE ingredients from their store brand products.
There is no reason why Shaw’s can’t do the same.
Q:
What do you want Shaw’s to do?
A: We are
asking Shaw’s to make a pledge to eliminate GE ingredients including rBGH
from their store brand products. . Supermarkets work with suppliers to
create their own brand cereals, infant formulas and other products. Although Shaw’s does sell some organic products
(which prohibit the use of GE ingredients), their continued support of
this technology is a mortal threat to organic agriculture. If GE crops contaminate those of organic farmers,
they may then lose their ability to certify their crop as organic.
Once this genetic pollution begins, it will be virtually impossible
to stop and organic farming will cease to exist.
Q: Shaw’s says that GE foods have been approved by the FDA, and have never
been proven unsafe.
A: There
have been no long-term studies to show that GE foods are safe for human
health or the environment. Despite receiving almost half a million comments
to the contrary, FDA regulations on GE foods still do not include mandatory
labeling or safety testing. As
a result, Government regulators and the biotech industry have allowed
us and our families to be guinea pigs in a dangerous experiment. A recent
national poll conducted by ABC News found that 93% of Americans support
mandatory labeling for GE foods. The
vast majority of these people want GE foods labeled so they can choose
to avoid them. Consumers have clearly spoken, now Shaw’s needs to listen. :
Q:
What kinds of Shaw’s products may contain GE-ingredients.?
GE ingredients,
which include, soybeans, soy oil, corn, corn syrup, squash, canola oil,
cottonseed oil, papaya and tomatoes, can be found in items such as cookies,
crackers, taco shells, soft drinks, and salad dressing. GE crops such
as corn, cotton and soy also comprise a large percentage of animal feed. In addition the vast majority of the nation’s
milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream and other dairy products come from cows
injected with Monsanto’s recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH).
Q: How do you know Shaw’s uses genetically engineered ingredients in their
products?
A: Greenpeace recently commissioned laboratory
testing, which found that four out of five Shaw’s store brand products
were contaminated with GE ingredients. These products were Shaw’s brand
Crispy Corn Puff cereal, Shaw's brand Yellow Corn Chips, Shaw's brand
Taco Dinner Kit and
Shaw's
brand Complete Pancake and Baking mix.
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