GMO Task Force: A Call To Action

La Montanita has long been concerned about the entrance of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) onto the marketplace. For years, the Co-op has actively worked to educate consumers on the health, safety and environmental issues related to genetically-engineered products. rBGH, the genetically engineered growth hormone that causes cows to produce more milk, was the very first GMO to appear in the food industry. Since that time, numerous other products have appeared including the GMO rennet that coagulates cheese, GMO potatoes, tomatoes, soybeans, corn, canola and cotton. Biotech corporations and their affiliated seed companies are field testing numerous foods, including carrots, squash, melon, peppers, cucumbers, water-melon, lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, collards, peas, wheat and others. These, too, may soon find their way onto our plates in the not-too-distant future.

At La Montanita, our deep concern about the health, safety and environmental effects of these products continues. Our newsletter has been a major source of information for consumers on this issue. We recognize that at this time, concerted action is needed to protect ourselves and our environment.

We are contacting all our suppliers and manufacturers to ascertain what steps they have taken to assure that their products are free from genetic contamination (see letter published below). We will keep consumers informed of manufacturer commitments to GMO free products. We are also committed to doing DNA testing on specific products ourselves, when necessary. We support efforts to pass H.R.3377, the Genetically Engineered Foods Right to Know Act, and support the introduction of similar legis-lation in the Senate.

To do all this, we need your help. Co-op members interested in working on this issue are invited to a meeting on Thursday, Feb-ruary 10 at 4:00 p.m. at the Nob Hill location. Members will receive an 18% shopping credit discount for their volunteer time.

For more information, contact Robyn at 265-4631, or Corva Rose or Aimee at 242-8800.

January 3, 2000

Dear Friend in the Natural Foods Industry,

Over the past nearly 25 years we have watched our community Co-op grow into a multimillion dollar business, now with two locations. Our growth has paralleled the growth in the natural foods industry as a whole. It has been exciting and an honor to have participated in the building of our industry. We are now faced with what is perhaps the greatest challenge not only to the natural foods industry and the larger food industry, but the planet as a whole.

The entrance of genetically-engineered organisms in foods has created a new opportunity for our industry. Many consumers are deeply concerned about these new products, especially in light of the lack of research on the long term health and safety of their consumption. Indeed, what independent research has been done has shown cause for concern. This includes: the addition of yet another source of a “daily dose” of antibiotics, the linking of rBGH to increased possibilities of breast cancer, the more recent data on the Cauliflower Mosaic Virus promoter’s ability to create and/or activate new viruses, the induction of changes in the digestive tract in test animals and overexpression of genes that could lead to cancer, as well as many other environmental issues.

Consumers are looking to us in the natural foods industry, espe-cially organic producers, to maintain a standard of production that allows them a degree of security in their food choices. Pollen drift and genetic contamination are affecting both organic farmers and natural foods manufacturers. Many companies are utilizing the services of Genetic ID, or one of their licensed laboratories, or other DNA testing to verify the purity of their supplies. The high ethical standards of one company in our industry forced them to destroy tens of thousands of dollars of organic corn chips when they found they were contaminated in this way.

In order to assure our customers that we are doing everything we can to protect them and our industry from genetic contamination, we would greatly appreciate you sending us your plan of action to prevent the contamination of your products. As we have limited shelf space, we must choose our products carefully and seek only to provide the very best for our customers.

We believe that by working together on this issue we can maintain the integrity of our industry and by so doing ensure its future growth and strength. Thank you in advance for your help. We look forward to your response.

In cooperation,
La Montanita Co-op