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Genetic engineering has run into
a major hurdle around much of the globe: strong public opposition.
European citizens routinely tear up GE crops. European supermarkets
remove genetically engineered foods from their shelves. Third
World farmers rally against GE technology. And people in many
countries around the world have successfully lobbied for labeling
of GE foods.
The response in the United States has been
more tepid. But efforts here are picking up steam.
A quick look at some of the global opposition
to genetically engineered foods:
GM crops
uprooted in Europe, and now America
In what some claim are acts of nonviolent civil disobedience
and others call vandalism,  protesters
have torn up dozens of GE plots in England and other European
nations to protest the rise of biotechnology. In Britain,
activists ripped several acres of genetically modified rape
seed from a farm, and set up a flagpole and 20-foot scaffolding
tripods to continue their protest. In France, protesters destroyed
a small parcel of genetically mutated rape seed in southwest
France.
United States farmlands have also begun
to feel the wrath of GE opponents. In Vermont, for example,
people cut down a 50-square-foot section of corn plants, and
left three large, brightly colored cutouts of Monarch butterflies
in their place (Cornell University laboratory tests recently
showed that GE corn may be deadly to the Monarchs).
And in Maine, a group calling itself the
"Seeds of Resistance" destroyed a half-acre plot
of genetically engineered corn at the University of Maine-owned
Rogers Farm.
Third World
countries speak out against GE foods
In the spring of 1999, 500 farmers from India and other
south Asian nations caravanned to Europe on a one-month tour
to protest globalization, corporate rule and GE foods. At
a protest in Britain, they said farmers in the developing
world neither want nor need GE technology.
Third World farmers have been particularly
outspoken against "terminator" seed technology,
which would force millions of farmers to buy seed from biotechnology
corporations year after year.
European
Supermarkets race to eliminate GE foods from their shelves
In the late 1990s, supermarket chains throughout Europe
raced to remove all  GE
ingredients from their stores. Most major chains in Britain,
and many of the biggest chains throughout the rest of Western
Europe, no longer sell GE goods. In Britain, restaurants and
pubs must now indicate any items on their menu that are made
with GE ingredients (failure to comply can bring fines of
up to $8,000).
Archer
Daniels Midland warns suppliers to separate GE from non-GE
foods
Archer Daniels Midland Co., one of the largest buyers
of corn in the United States, made waves in August 1999 when
it warned suppliers to keep genetically modified crops separate
from conventional ones. The move has forced farmers and grain
merchants to absorb additional storage and handling costs.
ADM made the move because it says some
customers are basing their food purchasing decisions on whether
the food has been genetically altered. Consumers should be
able to maintain that choice, the company says.
Deutsche
Bank says genetic engineering firms a poor investment
Europe's largest bank, Deutsche, has advised investors
to sell their shares in companies involved in the development
of genetically engineered foods because customers don't want
to buy their products.
"We note that Monsanto (one of the
largest genetic engineering companies) has spent more than
$1.5 million to persuade English consumers of the rectitude
of their position, but alas, to no avail," the bank reports,
adding that Monsanto is "little match" for Prince
Charles, an outspoken anti-GE advocate, "when it comes
to sensitivity for the English people's desires."
The Deutsche Bank's Washington analysts,
Frank Mitsch and Jennifer Mitchell, according to a report
in the British newspaper The Guardian, say it is nine
months since they first voiced their concerns that the biotech
industry was "going the way of the nuclear industry in
this country, but we count ourselves surprised at how rapidly
this forecast appears to be playing out.
"Domestic concerns regarding ag-biotechnology
are clearly on the rise. For the most part, though, it has
not gotten the attention of the ordinary US citizen, but when
it does - look out."
Gerber
declares it will keep its baby food GE free
The U.S. baby-food giant, Gerber, shocked food analysts
and activists in August 1999 when it announced that it would
no longer use  genetically
engineered ingredients in its baby foods. Gerber also announced
that it would replace GE corn with organic corn.
The announcement was all the more surprising
considering that Gerber is owned by Novartis, one of the world's
largest companies involved in GE food until it announced in
September 1999 that it was getting out of the business.
The move, which means Gerber is abandoning
some of its long-standing corn and soy bean suppliers, will
increase costs for the company--both in broken contracts and
the purchase of more expensive organic ingredients. But given
the emotive nature of baby food as an issue, Gerber decided
the move was worth it.
Al Piergallini, president of Novartis's
U.S. consumer health operation, said: "I have got to
listen to my customers. So, if there's an issue, or even an
inkling of an issue, I am going to make amends. We have to
act preemptively."
What's more, by the end of June 2000, Novartis
had completely banned genetically engineered foods from its
own food products - mostly health foods such as cereal bars.
Other companies have followed suit, concerned
about the strongly negative public sentiment against biotech
foods. In 2000, snack food maker Frito-Lay Inc. asked hundreds
of its contract farmers to grow GE-free corn. McDonald's asked
its french-fry suppliers to stop using GE potatoes.
Americans
increasingly call for labeling
In the summer of 1999, Mothers for Natural Law and
other groups submitted petitions to Congress with 500,000
signatures calling for labeling of genetically engineered
foods. The Campaign to Label Genetically Engineered Foods
has encouraged thousands more to write letters to members
of Congress as well as other government officials. Surveys
show that while a majority of Americans aren't aware of the
issue, when they are informed, they strongly support labeling.
Responding to the growing demand for labeling,
Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) introduced House Resolution
3377, the Genetically Engineered Food Right to Know Act, in
late 1999. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) introduced similar
legislation in the Senate.
A December, 2000 survey by Oxygen/Markle
Pulse found that only 50 percent of women would knowingly
purchase genetically engineered foods, and 85 percent of Americans
support labeling.
In February, 2001, the FDA released an
internal report that showed that "virtually all participants"
surveyed in focus groups want labeling.
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