If you use sugar at all, please read.

[Guest guest]

I have been using only Turbinado sugar nigh on to 15 years. However, if you eat out or buy ready made products from the grocery, beware.

Blessings, Joy

Citizens for Health www.citizens.org

Stop Genetically Engineered Sugar Beets

April, 2008 - Leading U.S. sugar providers whose sugar is sourced from genetically engineered (GE) sugar beets begin sending their "en-sugar" to stores this year. In 2001, Hershey's, M & M Mars, and American Crystal Sugar told consumers they would not use GE sugar; but now that sugar beets are close to being planted commercially, they have yet to renew those assurances.

Let these companies know you expect them to live up to their pledge to consumers - click on the company names below to make your voice heard! (A sample letter is attached at the end of this story for your convenience.)

American Crystal Sugar Company

Hershey's

M & M/Mars Inc.

Since half of the granulated sugar in the U.S. comes from sugar beets, the infiltration of GE sugar beets represents a significant alteration of our food supply. These sugars, as well as genetically engineered corn and soy, are found in hundreds of everyday food products. This means consumers will be exposed to genetically engineered ingredients in virtually every non-organic food product.

Unlike traditional breeding, genetic engineering creates new life forms that would never occur in nature, creating new and unpredictable health and environmental risks. Genes from bacteria, viruses, plants, animals - even humans - have already been inserted into common food crops, like corn, soy, and canola, to create "encrops". Now companies like Monsanto have set their sights on our sugar.

In fact, a new option available this year, Monsanto’s Roundup Ready sugar beet, was genetically engineered to survive direct application of their own controversial broad-spectrum herbicide, Roundup. Studies indicate farmers planting the "Roundup Ready" versions of corn and soy spray large amounts of the herbicide, contaminating both soil and water. Farmers planting GE sugar beets are told they may be able to apply the herbicide up to five times per year. Sugar beets are grown on 1.4 million acres by 12,000 farmers in the U.S. from Oregon to Minnesota.

Now, at the request of Monsanto, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency increased the allowable amount of glyphosate residues on sugar beetroots by an unbelievable 5000%. (Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Roundup). Sugar is extracted from the beet’s root, and the result is more glyphosate pesticide in our sugar. This is not good news for those who want to use sugar, or products containing sugar, without the threat of ingesting toxic weed killer.