Kellogg's to us GM sugar

[earthymom]

Kellogg's is planning to use Monsanto round-up ready sugar in its cereals and other products for sale in the US (not the EU where labeling of GM products is required) because they believe Americans do not care one way or the other.

From a letter Kellogg's wrote in response to an OCA inquiry:
While we don't currently use sugar from genetically engineered sugar beets, it's important to note that
there is worldwide scientific consensus that there are no safety concerns with the currently
commercialized genetically modified agricultural products on the market, including sugar. The World
Health Organization the Food and Agriculture Organizatiot of the IIN, the U.S. National Academy of
Sciences, and the American Medical Association all share this assessment.
Being a global organization, our focus has always been on meeting the needs of our consumers worldwide
and being responsive to a variety of consumer preferences. Our decisions on whether or not to use
biotech ingredients are made on a market-by-market basis and depend on a variety of factors specific to
each market.
Consumer preference is the critical factor Kellogg uses in determining the products being provided in
each market, and those preferences are not the same in every country. Ms. Charles was referring to a U.S.
study conducted in September 2007 by the International Food Lrformation Council stating that U.S.
consumer "concems about the usage of biotech ingredients in food production are low." Public
acceptance of biotechnology in Europe is lower than in the United States. As a result, all Kellogg
products sold in Europe are free ofany ingredients derived frombiotech sources.A11 of our products comply with the food labeling requirements in the markets in which they are sold
throughout the world.
We are as committed today to protecting and promoting consumer confidence in our products as our
founder, W. K. Kellogg, was when he had his name placed on every product as his personal assurance of
quality.
Thank you for taking the time to share your organization's point of view and for allowing Kellogg
Company to respond in kind.
Kel logg Company / Corporate Headquarters
One Kellogg Square / PO. Box 3599 / Battle Creek, Michigan 49016-3599 (269) 961-2000
a
kc/rkj

If you care about GM foods, their potential impact on the environment, and unproven impact on health, call and let them know at (800) 962-1413.

I called and the poor customer service girl didn't know anything. In fact she seemed a bit upset herself -- like she's not going to eat Kellogg's, Kashi, Morning Star or any other products made by this company any more.

[cheriede]

Wow!! Thanks so much for sharing. When I first read this, I thought it must be so kind of hoax or something. I must admit that I'm really not up to snuff on genetically modified products, but this has definitely raised my awareness. In my search, I found this http://www.newwest.net/topic/article...s_on/C520/L40/
and I guess it's not just limited to Kellogg's. It looks like it's Hershey's too.

[DonnainME]

WOW - it's scary. I don't like genetically engineered items much less in what I eat.

[earthymom]

Wow!! Thanks so much for sharing. When I first read this, I thought it must be so kind of hoax or something. I must admit that I'm really not up to snuff on genetically modified products, but this has definitely raised my awareness. In my search, I found this http://www.newwest.net/topic/article...s_on/C520/L40/
and I guess it's not just limited to Kellogg's. It looks like it's Hershey's too.

Thanks for the link Cheriede. My primary concern about GM foods/crops is about the dangers such plants pose to the environment. Most GM crops have been engineered to tolerate far more pesticides and herbicides than normal plants. Then there is the cross pollination/contamination of non-GM plants. I am very concerned that we are squandering the rich natural diversity that has enabled us to survive as a species. Then, pesticide residues aside, it has not been proven that GM foods are safe for human consumption (nor that they are unsafe). But if they are banned in other countries, specifically the European Union, I question their safety.
The EU banned certain ingredients in plastics years ago because of endocrine disruption properties years ago. In just the last few months the US finally followed suit -- Gerbers and others have agreed to remove these substances from baby bottles and such.

The American public is not informed. We are purposely kept in the dark. That is wrong. Just as Monsanto has fought rbgh labeling on milk, they fight GM labeling also. It's all about short term profit regardless of long term consequenses to the environment and people.

[TheRootedNomad]

Are they using the GM sugar beets on the Kashi products too, or only the Kellogs labeled products? Its seems almost fradulent to market the Kashi products the way they do is they are using GM ingredients in them.

[earthymom]

Are they using the GM sugar beets on the Kashi products too, or only the Kellogs labeled products? Its seems almost fradulent to market the Kashi products the way they do is they are using GM ingredients in them.

My understanding is that they are not currently using GM ingredients in Kashi but intend to by the end of the year. Kellogg's says they will not use GM in products sold in Europe because of "consumer" concerns (and the labeling laws in the EU that require them to identify GM ingredients).
We American consumers should let Kellogg's know that we do indeed care about GM vs. non-GM ingredients.

[cheriede]

Earthymom--Since you made this post yesterday, I have been reading more stuff about GM food and crops and it's pretty scary. It's like the more things you read, the more you discover things that you really didn't want to find out. Like you, one of my main concern is that it hasn't been proven that GM foods are safe for human consumption. Unfortunately, it seems like the GM sugar will be in our foods before we actually know any long term health risk from human consumption of all these pesticides.

I know that we can write a letter to Kellogg's to let them know our concern and obviously boycotting the products, but I would like to know if there is anything else to do. I'm guessing that if Kellogg's will begin using GM sugar in their products, then it's probably only a matter of time before other companies will follow.

[Willowtree]

Does anyone know where to find a list of foods that are and foods that are not genetically modified. I tried looking on a few web sites, but could not find such a thing. Thanks

[cheriede]

Does anyone know where to find a list of foods that are and foods that are not genetically modified. I tried looking on a few web sites, but could not find such a thing. Thanks

I went to the library to pick up some back issues of Mother Earth News and Vegetarian Times. I'm flipping through Vegetarian Times and there is an article about genetically modified materials. It's in the March 2007 issue. I went out to the website to see if I could paste the URL to the article, but it's not available on the site.

Basically, there are 4 main genetically modifed crops--corn, soybean, cottonseed and canola. Those are found in many of the processed foods we eat and we consume them all the time. The article suggested the only way to avoid GM foods would be to eliminate processed foods from our diets. The article went on to say that companies aren't required to label GM foods, so you really don't know for sure. Apparently, there was a bill that was introduced into Congress that would require companies to label their products, but I'm not really sure where it stands.

There are a few websites that were listed in the article, so they might be of some help to you...

http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/index.cfm click on genetically engineered food --crops--other resources . It has a guide to help avoid GM foods.

http://www.ucsusa.org/

http://www.thecampaign.org/

[IntlMom]

Remember, if you consume CERTIFIED ORGANIC foods, they are not able to contain GMO foods or foods containing GMO ingredients. So, you wonder what that will do to Kelloggs current line of organic cereals.......it's all so sickening that our generation is being used as human guinea pigs and most of the population either doesn;t know, or doesn';t care!