Sample Letter To the Editor

To the Editor:

Last year over 90 million acres of genetically engineered (GE) crops were grown in the United States. I am deeply concerned with the way these ingredients have been sneaked into the food on my grocery store shelves without proper safety testing. Has the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) fallen asleep at the wheel? Or have the special interest groups pressured them to look the other way? Upwards of two-thirds of all processed food in stores like Food Emporium contains genetically engineered ingredients such as corn and soy, yet the FDA does not require safety testing of these foods.

Over 90% of Americans want these foods labeled, so they can choose to avoid them. Trader Joe's, Wild Oats and Whole Foods have already agreed to remove GE ingredients from their store brand products. Food Emporium should respect consumers' wishes and do the same. The British Medical Association has called for a ban of GE food ingredients until further research into potential health and environmental impacts is conducted. Why then are American consumers being used as guinea pigs in Food Emporium's science experiments?

Sincerely,

XXXXXXX

Sample Letter to a Senator

Examples: Charles Schumer and Hilary Clinton

Senator Charles Schumer
313 Hart Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
senator@schumer.senate.gov
(212) 224-6542 Fax: (202) 228-3027

District Office:
Senator Charles Schumer
757 Third Avenue, Room 1702
New York, NY 10017
(212)486-4439 Fax (212)486-7693

District Office:
Senator Hilary Clinton
780 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10017
(212) 688-6282 Fax (212) 688-7444

Dear Senator ____________,

I am very concerned that I am eating genetically engineered foods without being told that fact. I am writing to request that you co-sponsor S.2080, the Genetically Engineered Food Right-to-Know Act. This legislation will ensure the right of Americans to know whether the foods we purchase have been genetically altered in any way.

Public opinion polls show that the vast majority of Americans want these foods labeled. Yet the FDA is allowing genetically engineered foods to come to market unlabeled arguing these foods are no different than those produced by typical hybridization. But studies show crops modified by genetic engineering may increase levels of natural toxins and lower levels of valuable nutrients.

The FDA states that if a genetically engineered food contains a known allergen it must be labeled. But what about the unknown allergens that may be created in these experimental foods? Genetically engineered crops often contain proteins that have never before been consumed by humans as food. Further, there are serious questions about the environmental safety of these crops. And many people have moral and religious objections.

Food manufacturers are selling potatoes and corn that have been genetically engineered to contain Bt toxin (Bacillus thuringensis). The Bt toxin stays in the cell structure of the plants and is deadly enough to kill insects. We are being told that these foods are safe for human consumption, but we have heard that before about DDT, EDB and many other pesticides later shown to be cancer-causing.

I do not want to eat genetically engineered foods that contain the Bt toxin. Nor do I want to eat "Roundup Ready" soybeans or other products such as strawberries that contain genes from a fish! But without labeling, I cannot avoid it. So I am asking you to become a co-sponsor of the Genetically Engineered Food Right-to-Know Act S. 2080 which will require the labeling of all genetically engineered foods. Similar labeling legislation has already been passed in Europe, Australia and Japan.

Please write back to me and let me know if you intend to support this important legislation.

Sincerely,

___________________________________________ (signature)

___________________________________________ (print name)

___________________________________________ (address)

___________________________________________ (city, state, zip)