Earlier this evening, my husband and I sat down to a common dinner that we love -- home made black bean burritos topped off with Pace Salsa.
For the past ten years, my family's consumption of Pace Salsa surely made us one of Campbell's better customers. Not just because of how much we eat, but because of all the demos I do, and food I make for others. I would purchase salsa in the largest size glass containers sold, sometimes bringing home a dozen jars at a time -- just to make sure I didn't run out. But that is in the past. I won't be buying Pace products any more.
For the past ten years, my family's consumption of Pace Salsa surely made us one of Campbell's better customers. Not just because of how much we eat, but because of all the demos I do, and food I make for others. I would purchase salsa in the largest size glass containers sold, sometimes bringing home a dozen jars at a time -- just to make sure I didn't run out. But that is in the past. I won't be buying Pace products any more.
What, you may be wondering could have caused a passionate salsa lover like me, always looking for the best food bargains too (Pace is often the least expensive salsa I can find) to stop eating the stuff (right in the middle of dinner) and vow to not eat it any more? Well it was this. I was
waiting for my husband to return to the dinner table, with our second burrito. Next to me was the newly opened jar of Pace Thick and Chunky Mild Salsa. We had each used some on our first burrito. I lifted up the jar and began reading the fine print on the label to give me something to do while waiting for our second course.
That's when I about fell out of my seat. See that line that says, "The ingredient from corn in this product comes from genetically modified crops."
Probably a bit of vinegar made from genetically modified corn, does not present much risk--even though in 1989 about 1500 people were sickened and 19 died, likely from consuming a bit of genetically modified L-Tryptophan. Given concerns about GMOs, Campbells could source non-GMO distilled vinegar, or use rice, or wine vinegar so this product could be GMO free.
However fear for my personal safety was not my main concern at this time.
Some might applaud the Campbell's company for being so forthright and declaring GM ingredients right there on the label. I will confess, because of the history of chemical companies fighting so hard to prevent labeling of GM foods, for a split second I actually thought of applauding Campbell's...until I considered the bigger picture. There are indisputable harms from GMO foods/crops. We've been lied to so many times on this issue that I feel it's a matter of conscience to oppose in every way possible the use of this technology outside of controlled laboratory conditions. Very little GOOD safety testing has been done on GM foods, while many whistle blowers have come forward with evidence of data suggesting harms being intentionally buried.
We were told GM crops would reduce pesticide levels in our food. But in fact the opposite is true. Sales of Round-Up have skyrocketed from the introduction of Round-Up Ready corn and soy, which were created to withstand egregious amounts of Round-up being sprayed right on them, without dying. Now we have evidence suggesting that higher levels of Round-up in our food might increase gut problems in humans AND that studies' proponents of RR Corn cited to show it was safe had a ridiculously stupid study design.
We were told that GMO crops would especially benefit the global poor. For 20 years THE example cited to substantiate this has been golden rice developed to cure vitamin A deficiency. But this story is nothing but propaganda. No population has ever demonstrated reductions in blindness from golden rice -- but the story continues to be told as evidence of how GM foods will help vulnerable populations.
The real reason that companies are pushing GM food so hard, is because the seeds are patentable, and allow more opportunities for them to extract payments from farmers. GM crops are increasing the consolidation of control of our food system in the hands of fewer people. That makes this a huge issue of justice. Please join me in boycotting GM food.
Probably a bit of vinegar made from genetically modified corn, does not present much risk--even though in 1989 about 1500 people were sickened and 19 died, likely from consuming a bit of genetically modified L-Tryptophan. Given concerns about GMOs, Campbells could source non-GMO distilled vinegar, or use rice, or wine vinegar so this product could be GMO free.
However fear for my personal safety was not my main concern at this time.
Some might applaud the Campbell's company for being so forthright and declaring GM ingredients right there on the label. I will confess, because of the history of chemical companies fighting so hard to prevent labeling of GM foods, for a split second I actually thought of applauding Campbell's...until I considered the bigger picture. There are indisputable harms from GMO foods/crops. We've been lied to so many times on this issue that I feel it's a matter of conscience to oppose in every way possible the use of this technology outside of controlled laboratory conditions. Very little GOOD safety testing has been done on GM foods, while many whistle blowers have come forward with evidence of data suggesting harms being intentionally buried.
We were told GM crops would reduce pesticide levels in our food. But in fact the opposite is true. Sales of Round-Up have skyrocketed from the introduction of Round-Up Ready corn and soy, which were created to withstand egregious amounts of Round-up being sprayed right on them, without dying. Now we have evidence suggesting that higher levels of Round-up in our food might increase gut problems in humans AND that studies' proponents of RR Corn cited to show it was safe had a ridiculously stupid study design.
We were told that GMO crops would especially benefit the global poor. For 20 years THE example cited to substantiate this has been golden rice developed to cure vitamin A deficiency. But this story is nothing but propaganda. No population has ever demonstrated reductions in blindness from golden rice -- but the story continues to be told as evidence of how GM foods will help vulnerable populations.
The real reason that companies are pushing GM food so hard, is because the seeds are patentable, and allow more opportunities for them to extract payments from farmers. GM crops are increasing the consolidation of control of our food system in the hands of fewer people. That makes this a huge issue of justice. Please join me in boycotting GM food.
