Please Support Legislation to Require
Mandatory Labeling of Genetically Engineered Foods

Senator Jon Corzine
502 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator Corzine,

I am writing to ask you to support and co-sponsor legislation to require the mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods.

A bill called the Genetically Engineered Food Right to Know Act will soon be introduced before the House of Representatives. Please work to get a matching bill in the U.S. Senate.

It is shocking that the FDA considers genetically engineered foods "substantially equivalent" to non-genetically engineered foods. Genetically engineered crops contain antibiotic-resistant marker genes, viral promoters and foreign proteins never before consumed by humans. These are not found in crops produced through normal means of hybridization.

Further, the FDA is not testing these products itself. The agency is relying on edited summaries provided by the very companies that have a financial interest in bringing these biotech crops to market. And under current FDA law, the companies are not even required to provide summaries!

Labeling is essential for me to choose whether or not I want to consume genetically engineered foods. Genetically engineered foods are required to be labeled in the European Union nations, plus Japan, China, Australia, New Zealand and many other countries around the world. As an American, I firmly believe I should also have that right to know if my foods have been genetically engineered.

A recent report funded by the USDA and conducted by Rutgers University found that 89% of the American public feel genetically engineered foods should be required to be labeled. Only 10% felt labeling should not be required. Therefore, co-sponsoring this bill will only be doing what the vast majority of American citizens are requesting our government provide for these controversial foods.

Please write me back and let me know if you will co-sponsor and support legislation to require the mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods. Thank you!

Sincerely,
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Senate Form Letter

Please Support Legislation to Require
Mandatory Labeling of Genetically Engineered Foods

Senator Jon Corzine (D-NJ)
The United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator Corzine,

I am writing to ask you to support and co-sponsor legislation to require the mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods.

Public opinion polls consistently show that the great majority of Americans-both Democrats and Republicans-want genetically engineered foods to be labeled. I hope you will stand behind the clear will of the American people on this issue.

For example, a survey by ABC News conducted June 13-17, 2001 found that 93 percent of the public believes that genetically modified foods should be labeled. As ABC News states, "Such near-unanimity in public opinion is rare."

Citizens from around the world have called upon their governments to label genetically engineered foods, and more than two dozen industrialized nations have either passed or enacted labeling requirements. These countries include the 15 nations that make up the European Union, as well as Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand and many others. Even China has agreed to label genetically engineered foods. The U.S. government should enact similar labeling legislation in our country to protect the right of citizens to know about their food.

A growing number of organizations in the United States and around the world are calling for the labeling of genetically engineered foods.

The American Association of Retired People, Consumers Union, Consumer Federation of America, Sierra Club and numerous other national, regional and local organizations support mandatory labeling of genetically modified foods.

Please write back to me and let me know you support my right to know about the food I eat by co-sponsoring legislation to require labeling on genetically engineered foods.

Thank you!

Sincerely,
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