With GMO beets likely to hit the US market, and their sugar to reach global markets, savvy eco-conscious consumers are going to have to pay extra attention to finding organic, non-engineered beets.
One prevailing assumption about GMO foods is that if one country bans them, her citizens are safe. But a statement from Wenonah Hauter, Executive Director, Food & Water Watch, suggests that dangers of GMO foods is looming larger across the globe, including the Middle East. This in response to the USDA’s recent approval to plant genetically engineers beets, following on the heels of GMO alfalfa deregulation in the US. Could the sugar from such bulbs make its way unknowingly into our food chain?“If you thought your sugary treat was bad before, it’s just become a nightmare,” said Hauter. “Adding insult to injury, the USDA last week announced it would allow the ‘partial deregulation’ of the growing of genetically engineered (GE) sugar beets in defiance of a court order mandating an environmental impact statement before proceeding with the approval. This comes just days after entirely deregulating the planting of GE alfalfa.
“This bad decision effectively gives a green light to Monsanto to hold even more sway over the food system. Soon, many candy bars in America could be produced with sugar grown with Monsanto’s dangerous Roundup Ready herbicide. While Americans enjoy their dessert, Monsanto will reap ever-larger profits and enjoy ever-greater power over what you and I eat.”
“The USDA is punting the ball to the industry on these decisions. But [they] should note that biotechnology is no substitute for good agricultural policy. Farmers, the environment, and consumers will all suffer with biotechnology’s increasing stranglehold over the food system, brought to you in part by the USDA, ” Hauter concludes.
Food & Water Watch is a watchdog organization that works to ensure the food, water and fish we consume is safe, accessible and sustainable.
They write:
So we can all enjoy and trust in what we eat and drink, we help people take charge of where their food comes from, keep clean, affordable, public tap water flowing freely to our homes, protect the environmental quality of oceans, force government to do its job protecting citizens, and educate about the importance of keeping shared resources under public control.
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Tinamarie is a regular contributor to Greenprophet.com. You can follow her on @ModernLoveMuse and facebook. She blogs at www.tinamariebernard.com.
Being a beet farmer unlike you obviously I know that these beets are safer to consume than the conventional ones baceause we spary round up a couple times vs a mix of chemicals multipal times a month and cultivating almost ever two weeks. Also maye if your going to take the time to write such a bias artical you should do some research and find out what a sugar beet looks like. But you didnt, congratulations. Maybe you should come to a beet farm sometimes and see how it is.