Politics, Pseudoscience and Corporate Cash: The Defeat of Oregon’s Measure 27 (Requiring Labeling...
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Transcript of Politics, Pseudoscience and Corporate Cash: The Defeat of Oregon’s Measure 27 (Requiring Labeling...
Politics, Pseudoscience Politics, Pseudoscience and Corporate Cash: The and Corporate Cash: The
Defeat of Oregon’s Defeat of Oregon’s Measure 27 (Requiring Measure 27 (Requiring Labeling of Genetically-Labeling of Genetically-
Modified Foods)Modified Foods)Martin Donohoe, MD, FACPMartin Donohoe, MD, FACP
Old Town ClinicOld Town ClinicPortland State UniversityPortland State University
Oregon Physicians for Social Oregon Physicians for Social ResponsibilityResponsibility
Measure 27Measure 27
November, 2002 Oregon ballotNovember, 2002 Oregon ballot Required labeling of genetically-Required labeling of genetically-
engineered foods sold or engineered foods sold or distributed in the statedistributed in the state
Wholesale and retail, e.g., Wholesale and retail, e.g., supermarketssupermarkets Not cafeterias, restaurants, Not cafeterias, restaurants,
prisons, bake sales, etc.prisons, bake sales, etc.
Measure 27Measure 27
Defeated 73% to 27%Defeated 73% to 27%
Surprising, since multiple polls Surprising, since multiple polls conducted by the news media, conducted by the news media, government and industry show government and industry show from 85-95% of US citizens favor from 85-95% of US citizens favor labelinglabeling
Measure 27Measure 27
Opponents outspent proponents $5.3 Opponents outspent proponents $5.3 million to $200,000million to $200,000
Vast majority of opposition funding Vast majority of opposition funding from corporations headquartered from corporations headquartered outside state:outside state: Monsanto, Dupont, Syngenia, Dow Monsanto, Dupont, Syngenia, Dow
Agro Sciences, BASF, Aventis, Agro Sciences, BASF, Aventis, Hoechst, and Bayer Crop ScienceHoechst, and Bayer Crop Science
Measure 27Measure 27
Aided by PR and political Aided by PR and political professionalsprofessionals
Hid behind scientific-sounding Hid behind scientific-sounding “advocacy” groups – e.g., The “advocacy” groups – e.g., The Council for Biotechnology Council for Biotechnology InformationInformation
Corporate Opposition to Corporate Opposition to Measure 27Measure 27
Vested interest in spreading Vested interest in spreading deliberate misinformation deliberate misinformation about the initiative to keep the about the initiative to keep the public ignorant of the adverse public ignorant of the adverse consequences of their profit-consequences of their profit-driven manipulation of the driven manipulation of the world’s food supplyworld’s food supply
Measure 27 Opponents’ Measure 27 Opponents’ Other ActivitiesOther Activities
Chemical weapons:Chemical weapons: Hoechst (mustard gas), Monsanto (Agent Hoechst (mustard gas), Monsanto (Agent
Orange), Dow (napalm)Orange), Dow (napalm) Pesticides:Pesticides:
Monsanto (DDT)Monsanto (DDT) Ozone-destroying Ozone-destroying
chlorofluorocarbons:chlorofluorocarbons: Dupont and Hoechst major producersDupont and Hoechst major producers
Agricultural Antibiotics:Agricultural Antibiotics: Many companiesMany companies
Opposition TacticsOpposition Tactics
Claimed measure would unfairly Claimed measure would unfairly hurt Oregon farmers, grocers, hurt Oregon farmers, grocers, restaurants, schools and non-profit restaurants, schools and non-profit groupsgroupsNo commercial GE crops grown No commercial GE crops grown
in Oregonin OregonGrocers, restaurants, schools and Grocers, restaurants, schools and
non-profit groups not affectednon-profit groups not affected
Opposition TacticsOpposition Tactics
Funded commercial diatribes Funded commercial diatribes describing increased, onerous and describing increased, onerous and complicated government oversightcomplicated government oversight
Frightened public with unfounded Frightened public with unfounded fears of tax increases of up to fears of tax increases of up to $1500 per family$1500 per family Realistic estimates $4 - Realistic estimates $4 -
$10/person/year$10/person/year
Opposition TacticsOpposition Tactics
Accused Measure’s supporters Accused Measure’s supporters of being “against national policy of being “against national policy and scientific consensus”and scientific consensus”
Argued that labels would Argued that labels would provide “unreliable, useless provide “unreliable, useless information that would information that would unnecessarily confuse, mislead unnecessarily confuse, mislead and alarm consumers”and alarm consumers”
Opposition TacticsOpposition Tactics
Claimed USDA, EPA and FDA Claimed USDA, EPA and FDA evaluate safety of GE products from evaluate safety of GE products from inception to “final approval”inception to “final approval” USDA deals with field testing, EPA USDA deals with field testing, EPA
with environmental concerns, FDA with environmental concerns, FDA considers GE foods equivalent to considers GE foods equivalent to non-GE foodsnon-GE foods
FDA (1992): Declared GM foods FDA (1992): Declared GM foods “substantially equivalent to “substantially equivalent to regular foods”regular foods”
Opposition TacticsOpposition Tactics
All rely on safety tests done by All rely on safety tests done by companies making GE productscompanies making GE productsCorporations are not required Corporations are not required
to report results to to report results to governmentgovernment
Corporations Dominate Corporations Dominate Oregon PoliticsOregon Politics
Oregon corporate income taxes have Oregon corporate income taxes have decreased by 40% over the past 12 yearsdecreased by 40% over the past 12 years Lowest corporate taxes of any Western stateLowest corporate taxes of any Western state
Corporations outspend labor unions 5-1 Corporations outspend labor unions 5-1 and massively outspend all other and massively outspend all other progressive groups and causes put progressive groups and causes put togethertogether
Oregon is one of only six states to allow Oregon is one of only six states to allow unlimited corporate campaign unlimited corporate campaign contributionscontributions
Post-Measure 27 Post-Measure 27 ActivitiesActivities
Ongoing vigorous lobbying campaign Ongoing vigorous lobbying campaign to pass bill pre-empting any locality in to pass bill pre-empting any locality in Oregon from passing a labeling billOregon from passing a labeling bill
Nationwide: lawsuits against farmersNationwide: lawsuits against farmers Supported by 75 employee, $10 million Supported by 75 employee, $10 million
legal division at Monsantolegal division at Monsanto Most farmers settle; settlement terms Most farmers settle; settlement terms
often sealedoften sealed
Food Labeling in the U.S.Food Labeling in the U.S.
Vitamin, mineral, caloric and fat Vitamin, mineral, caloric and fat contentcontent
Sulfites (allergies)Sulfites (allergies)
Source of proteins (vegetarians)Source of proteins (vegetarians)
GE Food Labeling GE Food Labeling WorldwideWorldwide
Most processed foods available in Most processed foods available in the U.S. today come from GM cropsthe U.S. today come from GM crops
European Union has required European Union has required labeling since 1998labeling since 1998
GE Food Labeling GE Food Labeling WorldwideWorldwide
Japan, China, Australia, and many Japan, China, Australia, and many other countries also require labelsother countries also require labels
Many countries ban the import of Many countries ban the import of GE foods from the U.S. and GE foods from the U.S. and elsewhereelsewhere EU considering lifting ban; U.S. EU considering lifting ban; U.S.
suing E.U. through WTOsuing E.U. through WTO
Benefits of Labeling GE Benefits of Labeling GE FoodsFoods
Prevent allergic reactionsPrevent allergic reactions Soybeans modified with Brazil nut genesSoybeans modified with Brazil nut genes
Allow vegetarians to avoid animal Allow vegetarians to avoid animal genesgenes Tomatoes with flounder genesTomatoes with flounder genes
Permit concerned individuals to avoid Permit concerned individuals to avoid milk from rBGH-treated cattlemilk from rBGH-treated cattle Risks to humans, cattle and the Risks to humans, cattle and the
environmentenvironment
Benefits of Labeling GE Benefits of Labeling GE FoodsFoods
Heighten public awareness of Heighten public awareness of genetic engineeringgenetic engineeringMillions of Americans eat GM Millions of Americans eat GM
foods every day without foods every day without knowing itknowing it
Only 24% of Americans believe Only 24% of Americans believe they have eaten GM foodsthey have eaten GM foods
Benefits of Labeling GE Benefits of Labeling GE FoodsFoods
Grant people freedom to choose Grant people freedom to choose what they eat based on what they eat based on individual willingness to individual willingness to confront riskconfront risk
Ensure healthy public debate Ensure healthy public debate over the merits of genetic over the merits of genetic modification of foodstuffsmodification of foodstuffs
Health and Environmental Health and Environmental Risks of GE FoodsRisks of GE Foods
Allergies and toxicities from new proteins Allergies and toxicities from new proteins entering the food supplyentering the food supply EMS from GE-L-tryptophan supplements in EMS from GE-L-tryptophan supplements in
1980s1980s FDA covered upFDA covered up
Bt corn increases sensitivity of mammals to Bt corn increases sensitivity of mammals to other allergensother allergens
GM peas cause lung inflammation in mice – GM peas cause lung inflammation in mice – trial stoppedtrial stopped
New, allergenic proteins in GE soy in South New, allergenic proteins in GE soy in South KoreaKorea
Health and Environmental Health and Environmental Risks of GE FoodsRisks of GE Foods
Secret Monsanto report found that Secret Monsanto report found that rats fed a diet rich in GM corn had rats fed a diet rich in GM corn had smaller kidneys and unusually high smaller kidneys and unusually high white blood cell countswhite blood cell counts
Russian Academy of Sciences Russian Academy of Sciences report found up to six-fold increase report found up to six-fold increase in death and severe underweight in death and severe underweight in infants of mothers fed GM soyin infants of mothers fed GM soy
Health and Environmental Health and Environmental Risks of GE FoodsRisks of GE Foods
Altered nutritional value of Altered nutritional value of foodstuffsfoodstuffs
Transfer of antibiotic resistance Transfer of antibiotic resistance genes into intestinal bacteria or genes into intestinal bacteria or other organisms, contributing to other organisms, contributing to antibiotic resistance in human antibiotic resistance in human pathogenspathogens
Health and Environmental Health and Environmental Risks of GE FoodsRisks of GE Foods
Increased pesticide use when Increased pesticide use when pests inevitably develop pests inevitably develop resistance to GE food toxinsresistance to GE food toxins Reproductive and neurotoxic effectsReproductive and neurotoxic effects
Greater herbicide use – confirmed by Greater herbicide use – confirmed by multiple studiesmultiple studies Glyphosphate and Roundup toxic to Glyphosphate and Roundup toxic to
placentaplacenta
GM crops and Pesticide GM crops and Pesticide UseUse
Overall pesticide use up 4.1% Overall pesticide use up 4.1% (122 million pound increase (122 million pound increase since 1996)since 1996)
Pesticide use down in Bt Pesticide use down in Bt crops, herbicide use up in crops, herbicide use up in herbicide-tolerant (e.g., herbicide-tolerant (e.g., Roundup Ready) cropsRoundup Ready) crops
Bt PlantsBt Plants
Bt cotton destroyed by mealy bug; Bt cotton destroyed by mealy bug; harvests in India decline harvests in India decline dramatically, leading to rash of dramatically, leading to rash of suicides among farmerssuicides among farmers
Bt corn more susceptible to aphidsBt corn more susceptible to aphids Monsanto pays fines for bribing Monsanto pays fines for bribing
Indonesian and Turkish officials to Indonesian and Turkish officials to accept Bt plantsaccept Bt plants
Health and Environmental Health and Environmental Risks of GE FoodsRisks of GE Foods
Acrylamide released from Acrylamide released from polyacrylamide (added to polyacrylamide (added to commercial herbicide mixtures to commercial herbicide mixtures to reduce spray drift) = neurotoxin, reduce spray drift) = neurotoxin, reproductive toxin, and carcinogenreproductive toxin, and carcinogen
Non-target insects dying from Non-target insects dying from exposure to pesticide-resistant cropsexposure to pesticide-resistant crops Ripple effects on other organismsRipple effects on other organisms
Health and Environmental Health and Environmental Risks of GE FoodsRisks of GE Foods
Genes, initially designed to protect crops Genes, initially designed to protect crops from herbicides, being transferred to native from herbicides, being transferred to native weedsweeds Create herbicide-resistant “superweeds” (8 Create herbicide-resistant “superweeds” (8
species identified by 2005, 5 in the U.S.)species identified by 2005, 5 in the U.S.)Herbicide-resistant oilseed rape has Herbicide-resistant oilseed rape has transferred gene to charlock weeks in transferred gene to charlock weeks in U.K.U.K.
Glyphosate (Roundup)-resistant pigweed Glyphosate (Roundup)-resistant pigweed in MO and GA, ryegrass in CA, maretail in MO and GA, ryegrass in CA, maretail in multiple statesin multiple states
Health and Environmental Health and Environmental Risks of GE FoodsRisks of GE Foods
GE plants and animals interbreeding with GE plants and animals interbreeding with wild relativeswild relatives Spread novel genes into wild populationsSpread novel genes into wild populations
Herbicide-resistant oilseed rape genes Herbicide-resistant oilseed rape genes found in turnipsfound in turnips
21% of U.S. farmers in violation of EPA 21% of U.S. farmers in violation of EPA rule requiring GE fields to contain at least rule requiring GE fields to contain at least 20% non-GE crop20% non-GE crop
¼ to 1/3 of Mexican corn samples ¼ to 1/3 of Mexican corn samples contaminated; Columbian coca plantscontaminated; Columbian coca plants
Failure of Regulatory Failure of Regulatory OversightOversight
““The Department of The Department of Agriculture has failed to Agriculture has failed to regulate field trials of GE regulate field trials of GE crops adequately”crops adequately”Department of Agriculture’s Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General, Office of Inspector General, 1/061/06
BiopharmingBiopharming
The engineering of plants to The engineering of plants to produce pharmaceuticals such as produce pharmaceuticals such as enzymes, antibiotics, enzymes, antibiotics, contraceptives, abortifacients, contraceptives, abortifacients, chemotherapeutic agents, other chemotherapeutic agents, other medications, and vaccinesmedications, and vaccines
Other organismsOther organismsFish: tilapia/clotting factor VIIFish: tilapia/clotting factor VIICattle: biopharming via milkCattle: biopharming via milk
BiopharmingBiopharming
400 products under 400 products under developmentdevelopment
Over 300 open-air testsOver 300 open-air tests
BiopharmingBiopharming
USDA conceals crop locations USDA conceals crop locations from public and neighboring from public and neighboring farmers, in most cases hides farmers, in most cases hides identity of drug or chemical identity of drug or chemical being tested, citing trade secretsbeing tested, citing trade secrets
BiopharmingBiopharming
Even state agriculture Even state agriculture regulators often unaware of regulators often unaware of info re drug or chemical info re drug or chemical involvedinvolved
HI judge ordered USDA to HI judge ordered USDA to disclose location of biopharmed disclose location of biopharmed crops as part of lawsuitcrops as part of lawsuit
BiopharmingBiopharming
10 states + Puerto Rico; 10 states + Puerto Rico; others soonothers soon
Hawaii – most tests; most Hawaii – most tests; most fragile ecosystemfragile ecosystem
Cases of food crop Cases of food crop contamination reportedcontamination reported
Famine and GE FoodsFamine and GE Foods
Food dictators who control GE seeds Food dictators who control GE seeds and plants attempted, through the and plants attempted, through the UNFAO and the WHO, to use the UNFAO and the WHO, to use the famines in Zambia and Angola to famines in Zambia and Angola to market GE foods through aid market GE foods through aid programs, even though…programs, even though…
More than 45 African (and other) More than 45 African (and other) countries expressed a willingness to countries expressed a willingness to supply local, non-GE reliefsupply local, non-GE relief
Famine and GE FoodsFamine and GE Foods
Zambia and Angola did not wish to Zambia and Angola did not wish to pollute its crops with GE foods, pollute its crops with GE foods, which would have prevented it from which would have prevented it from exporting home-grown crops to exporting home-grown crops to many other countries which do not many other countries which do not accept GE imports (further accept GE imports (further weakening its already fragile weakening its already fragile economy)economy)
Zimbabwe and Malawi have also Zimbabwe and Malawi have also refused GM food aidrefused GM food aid
GE Foods and World GE Foods and World HungerHunger
GE foods promoted as the GE foods promoted as the solution to world hungersolution to world hunger
Undermine food and nutritional Undermine food and nutritional security, food sovereignty and security, food sovereignty and food democracyfood democracy
GE Foods and World GE Foods and World HungerHunger
Increasing reliance on GE foodIncreasing reliance on GE food Consolidates corporate control of Consolidates corporate control of
agricultureagriculture Transmogrifies farmers into bioserfsTransmogrifies farmers into bioserfs
World hunger will not be solved World hunger will not be solved through large-scale molecular through large-scale molecular manipulation of food crops whose manipulation of food crops whose cultivation has been carefully cultivation has been carefully perfected over 10,000 yearsperfected over 10,000 years
GE Foods and World GE Foods and World HungerHunger
There is already enough food to feed the There is already enough food to feed the planetplanet UN FAO: Enough food to provide over 2700 UN FAO: Enough food to provide over 2700
calories/day to every personcalories/day to every person Feeding everyone requires political Feeding everyone requires political
and social willand social will Irony that the U.S., home to many GE Irony that the U.S., home to many GE
firms, has rates of child poverty and firms, has rates of child poverty and hunger among the highest in the hunger among the highest in the industrialized worldindustrialized world
SolutionsSolutions
Outlaw GM cropsOutlaw GM crops Labeling lawsLabeling laws
Allow informed consumer choiceAllow informed consumer choice Rep. Dennis Kucinich’s House bills Rep. Dennis Kucinich’s House bills
to require labeling, expand FDA to require labeling, expand FDA oversight, increase regulations re oversight, increase regulations re biopharming, and expand research biopharming, and expand research to help developing nations feed to help developing nations feed themselvesthemselves
SolutionsSolutions Expose and oppose industry attempts to pre-Expose and oppose industry attempts to pre-
empt labeling initiatives/lawsempt labeling initiatives/laws New ballot initiatives and legislationNew ballot initiatives and legislation
Marin, Mendocino and Trinity Counties Marin, Mendocino and Trinity Counties (CA) ban GMO crops(CA) ban GMO crops
Vermont now requires manufacturers of Vermont now requires manufacturers of GM seeds to label and register their GM seeds to label and register their productsproducts
Ireland pledges to go GM-free – 2007Ireland pledges to go GM-free – 2007 Scotland, Austria and Greece prohibit Scotland, Austria and Greece prohibit
planting of GM organismsplanting of GM organisms Moscow now requires labeling of GM foodsMoscow now requires labeling of GM foods
SolutionsSolutions
Campaign finance reformCampaign finance reform Public educationPublic education
Sound environmental education to Sound environmental education to counter corporate-sponsored counter corporate-sponsored curricula and greenwashcurricula and greenwash
ActivismActivism e.g., Oregon PSR’s Campaign for e.g., Oregon PSR’s Campaign for
Safe Foods – Biopharm Bill, rBGH Safe Foods – Biopharm Bill, rBGH CampaignCampaign
SolutionsSolutions
Support local, organic Support local, organic agriculture and patronize agriculture and patronize farmers’ marketsfarmers’ markets
Consumer-supported agriculture Consumer-supported agriculture co-opsco-ops
Consumers willing to pay Consumers willing to pay substantial premiums to avoid GE substantial premiums to avoid GE foodsfoods
SolutionsSolutions
Oppose IMF, World Bank, and Oppose IMF, World Bank, and WTO structural adjustment WTO structural adjustment programs which exacerbate programs which exacerbate hunger in the developing world by hunger in the developing world by forcing debtor nations to forcing debtor nations to restructure their agricultural base restructure their agricultural base toward export crops and away toward export crops and away from nutritional foodstuffs for local from nutritional foodstuffs for local consumptionconsumption
SolutionsSolutions
Support increased research and Support increased research and subsidies for alternative agriculturesubsidies for alternative agriculture
Support equitable distribution of Support equitable distribution of agricultural resources among agricultural resources among populations worldwidepopulations worldwide
Support increased, non-GM Support increased, non-GM agricultural aid to developing agricultural aid to developing nationsnations
Reference/WebsiteReference/Website
Donohoe MT. Genetically-Modified Foods: Donohoe MT. Genetically-Modified Foods: Health and Environmental Risks and the Health and Environmental Risks and the Corporate Agribusiness Agenda. Z Corporate Agribusiness Agenda. Z Magazine 2006 (December):35-40. Magazine 2006 (December):35-40. Available at Available at http://zmagsite.zmag.org/Dec2006/donohohttp://zmagsite.zmag.org/Dec2006/donohoe1206.htmle1206.html
Campaign for Safe Food, Oregon Campaign for Safe Food, Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility: Physicians for Social Responsibility: http://http://www.oregonpsr.org/programs/campaignSwww.oregonpsr.org/programs/campaignSafeFood.htmlafeFood.html
Contact InformationContact Information
Public Health and Social Public Health and Social Justice WebsiteJustice Website
http://www.phsj.orghttp://www.phsj.org
[email protected]@phsj.org