Canadian Biotechnology Action Network
1,000 signatures reached
To: Grocery Chains: Loblaw; Metro Inc.; Sobeys (IGA); Walmart Canada; JIm Pattison Group (Save On Foods/ Overwaitea).
Grocery Chains: Get GM Sweet Corn Out!
I want your assurance that there's no genetically modified (GM, also called genetically engineered) sweet corn (corn on the cob), or other GM fruits or vegetables, in my grocery store. GM sweet corn is genetically modified to kill insects. Health Canada approved GM corn without doing any of its own safety tests. GM foods aren't labelled in Canada so consumers like me can’t tell which sweet corn is GM. Please provide us with wholesome, natural fruits and vegetables. Please get GM sweet corn out.
Why is this important?
You, and your friends and family could unknowingly be buying genetically modified sweet corn!
Please sign our petition by February 16 2014, to the major grocery chains in Canada, to get genetically modified (GM, also called genetically engineered) sweet corn (corn on the cob) out of the food supply.
In October 2013, the Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN) tested conventional sweet corn samples from across Canada and found unlabelled genetically modified fresh sweet corn in grocery stores, roadside stands and farmers markets.
There has been a small, undetermined, amount of GM sweet corn, from the company Syngenta, on the market for over 10 years. However, in late 2011 Monsanto launched a line of GM sweet corn varieties as well.
GM sweet corn is the only whole GM food grown in Canada - as opposed to GM field corn, which is processed into food ingredients, animal feed and biofuels.
GM sweet corn is the third possible GM fruit or vegetable in the produce section of Canadian grocery stores. There could be some GM papaya (from the U.S. and China only) and some varieties of GM squash (from the U.S. only) that end up on our grocery shelves in Canada. (You can check www.cban.ca/gmfoods for more info.)
GM sweet corn is genetically modified to be toxic to particular insects. The GM technology transforms the corn plant into a pesticide. In fact, the toxin, from the soil bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). is usually expressed in every cell of the plant including the corn kernels. If certain insects try to eat the corn, they will die. The Bt toxin attaches to receptors in the gut of some insects, rupturing the gut and killing the insect. Health Canada approved GM corn without conducting any of its own safety tests.
GM foods are not labelled in Canada and our government does not track GM foods and crops.
Certified organic sweet corn is definitely not GM because organic farming prohibits the use of GM seeds, however certified organic sweet corn is not always available.
Thank you for taking action to get GM sweet corn out of Canada!
You can take more action! Please also write a personal letter to the head office of the grocery store where you shop! This action is very important. For more information and action please visit www.cban.ca/corn