Keep Organics GMO Free

The NOSB will hold its fall 2019 meeting in late October. NOSB is the governing board created by Congress that reviews all synthetic and non-organic materials proposed by Big Farma before they can be used in organic farming or food production. There are two issues that require our attention at this next meeting: induced mutagenesis and vaccines.

Write to Congress and the NOSB, urging them to maintain organic integrity and to prohibit induced mutagenesis and vaccines produced through excluded methods in organic production.

Recipients

Your Senators
Your Representative
NOSB National Organic Standards Board

Contact

*Required fields

* Title:

* First Name:

* Last Name:

* Your Email:

* Address 1:

Address 2:

* City:

* State / Province:

* ZIP / Postal Code:

Country:

* Phone Number:

Yes, I would like to receive periodic updates and communications from Alliance for Natural Health USA.

Remember me. What's this?

Message

Keep Organics GMO Free

Dear [Decision Maker],

* Personalize your message

Genetic modification is excluded from organic agriculture, but there is an ongoing debate at NOSB as to what practices constitute genetic modification. One such practice that will be discussed at the next NOSB meeting is induced mutagenesis. Induced mutagenesis, as opposed to natural mutagenesis, is when mutations in plants are brought about through exposure to ionizing radiation (such as ultraviolet light or X-rays) or certain chemical agents.

There are many reasons irradiated food is bad for us.  Research indicates a wide range of problems in animals that eat irradiated food, including chromosomal abnormalities, a rare form of cancer, and even premature death. Irradiation may also dramatically change flavor, odor, and texture of food, in addition to nutritional value. There is also evidence that induced mutagenesis produces more unintended changes in gene expression than genetic engineering.

In short, intentionally exposing plants to radiation does not seem like something that should be allowed in organic agriculture, where consumers expect foods to be grown without the use of pesticides and other toxic agents.

NOSB is also considering whether to allow vaccines produced through "excluded methods" to be allowed in organic food. "Excluded methods" refers to practices like genetic modification. NOSB is currently considering whether to allow vaccines produced through excluded methods in instances when an equivalent vaccine not produced through excluded methods is not commercially available.

This seems like a sneaky way for Big Food to smuggle GMO vaccines into organic production. Natural health advocates have been fighting this point for some time, so perhaps Big Farma is trying to sneak GMO vaccines through this type of loophole. Again, consumers purchase organic products with certain expectations--among the most important is that the food isn't genetically modified or produced with any GMOs--and this exemption would undermine these expectations for the benefit of CAFOs who do not actually care about organic standards.

Please maintain organic integrity and do not allow induced mutagenesis and vaccines produced through excluded methods in organic production.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State ZIP]
[Your Email]