Fwd: << A-M-F >> Urgent Consumer Advisory: Genetically Modified Sweet Corn in Canada

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From: <surpriseshan2@...>

Date: Fri, Jul 29, 2011 at 11:54 AM

Subject: << A-M-F >> Urgent Consumer Advisory: Genetically Modified

Sweet Corn in Canada

MCS-Canada

Urgent Consumer Advisory: Genetically  Modified Sweet Corn in Canada

Issued: July 29, 2011 - Please distribute widely. This  advisory is posted

at _http://www.cban.ca/corn_ (http://www.cban.ca/corn)

Choose organic sweet corn or ask at your  Farmers’ Market, roadside stand

or grocery store.

The Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN) and the  Ecological

Farmers of Ontario have confirmed that genetically modified (GM) sweet corn is

being grown by  farmers in Ontario who are selling at roadside stands, at

Farmers’ Markets, and  through some local grocery stores.

What consumers can  do:

1. Buy organic sweet corn. Organic farming prohibits the use of genetic

modification. Certified organic is your guarantee that your  sweet corn is not

genetically modified (and is also  pesticide-free).

2. Ask your local farmer or manager at the farm stand or  grocery store if

the sweet corn they are selling is genetically modified (also  called

genetically engineered).

Below is a checklist of information to help you get an  answer to your

question. The checklist is important because:

- Some farmers may be growing GM sweet corn but not be  aware that it is GM.

- Staff at the grocery store, or even the farm stand,  will probably not be

able to immediately answer your question and are very  likely to be

misinformed about GM foods.

GM corn is one of 4 GM  crops grown in Canada:

canola, soy, and white sugar beet (for sugar processing)  are the others.

The GM corn grown in Canada has been, until recently, all hard  corn used for

processed food ingredients and animal feed. The Canadian  government does

not label GM foods and does not keep national statistics on how  much GM is

grown or where. CBAN researches and monitors GM foods for you: for  more

information please see _http://www.cban.ca/gmfoods_ (http://www.cban.ca/gmfoods)

GM Sweet Corn Check  List

Tips for asking your local  farmer:

Does your sweet corn have insect protection? Is it  resistant to corn borer

or earworm?

-- The GM sweet corn is sold under the brand name  **Attribute** from

which is owned by the biotech company  Syngenta.

-- The GM sweet corn is genetically modified to be toxic to the  European

corn borer and corn earworm.

-- The GM technology that makes the plant toxic to these insects is

Monsanto’s Bt “YieldGard” technology.

-- Farmers purchasing Attribute **BT insect-protected** seed will sign  a

**Attribute Grower Stewardship Agreement**.

What company did you buy your corn seed from?

GM sweet corn is available to buy from US seed  companies, including

Seedway, selling **Genetically Enhanced** hybrid sweet corn  seed. The

sweet corn

varieties are also called **insect protected hybrids** -  the corn is a

hybrid but it is also genetically modified. (Seedway also sells  organic and

untreated sweet corn seed.)

Tips for asking your grocery  store, produce manager or farm stand manager:

CBAN has made a questionnaire that you can leave with  your grocery store,

produce or farm stand manager if necessary. Ask them to fill  it out and get

back to you. You can download the questionnaire at

_http://www.cban.ca/content/view/full/1037_

(http://www.cban.ca/content/view/full/1037)

You can also print **CBAN’s Quick Guide to GM  Foods** to hand to them.

Download the flyer at _http://www.cban.ca/content/view/full/994_

(http://www.cban.ca/content/view/full/994)   (If you have this

information from CBAN, you

will most likely have more  information than your grocery store manager.)

Please contact us:

If you find GM sweet corn, please inform CBAN of the  location and of any

details from your conversation with the farmer, farm stand  manager or

grocery store manager.

Please send your information to _coordinator@..._

(mailto:coordinator@...)  Fax 613 241 2506 or  leave a message at

613 241 2267 ext 25 (this

number will not be staffed until  August 11).

If you have questions: You can also call Ann Slater, Chair  of the

Ecological Farmers of Ontario GE Committee 519-349-2448 _aslater@..._

(mailto:aslater@...)

Thank you for your action!

This advisory was issued by the Canadian Biotechnology  Action Network

(CBAN) _www.cban.ca_ (http://www.cban.ca)  and the Ecological Farmers

Association of Ontario _www.efao.ca_ (http://www.efao.ca)  July 29,  2011.

Donate today to support our work:

_http://www.cban.ca_ (http://www.cban.ca)

Lucy Sharratt, Coordinator

Canadian Biotechnology  Action Network (CBAN)

Collaborative Campaigning for Food Sovereignty and  Environmental Justice

431 Gilmour Street, Second Floor

Ottawa, Ontario,  Canada, K2P 0R5

Phone: 613 241 2267 ext. 25

Fax: 613 241 2506

_coordinator@..._ (mailto:coordinator@...)

_www.cban.ca_ (http://www.cban.ca)