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P A N U P S
Pesticide Action Network Updates Service
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Genetically Engineered Food Alert Launched in U.S.

July 20, 2000

U.S. Consumers call on Campbell Soup Company and Kelloggs to remove
genetically engineered ingredients from their products

A coalition of seven national consumer and environmental groups have
announced the formation of a major new U.S. campaign to keep genetically
engineered ingredients off U.S. grocery store shelves, unless they are
thoroughly safety tested and labeled. As the first formal action of its
campaign, Genetically Engineered Food Alert (GEFoodAlert) called on the
Campbell Soup Company to remove genetically engineered ingredients from its
products, unless they are thoroughly tested and labeled. The campaign also
announced plans to add to efforts already in progress seeking removal of
genetically engineered ingredients from Kellogg's products.

The campaign was launched in 21 cities across the U.S., with GEFoodAlert
members and local activists demonstrating outside of supermarkets and
informing shoppers of the campaigns against Campbell's and Kellogg's.
GEFoodAlert invited shoppers to join the campaign by visiting its web site
(http://www.gefoodalert.org), and asked them to register their concerns with
Campbell's and Kellogg's directly by calling and by sending letters to the
companies urging them to remove genetically engineered ingredients from
their products.

For over 130 years, Campbell's has built its name on "good, wholesome,
high-quality food."  Because of consumer concern, Campbell's, like
Kellogg's, has ceased using genetically engineered soy and corn in its
products in Europe. However, in a letter dated, June 9, 2000, Campbell's
U.S. headquarters confirmed that they do use genetically engineered corn and
soy.

"As an American family icon associated with trust and wholesomeness,
Campbell's has a responsibility to the American public," said Andrew
Kimbrell, of the Center for Food Safety. "As it has already done in Europe,
Campbell's should take genetically engineered ingredients out of its food
here so that consumers can be assured that the food they are eating is
safe."

In the U.S., the majority of people support labeling. A poll conducted last
year for Time Magazine and CNN showed that 81% want "genetically engineered
foods labeled as such." GEFoodAlert organizers believe that consumers should
have a right to know that they are eating genetically engineered foods.

About Genetically Engineered Food Alert

GEFoodAlert calls on major food corporations to remove all genetically
engineered ingredients from their products and calls on the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) to remove genetically engineered food and crops
from the market, unless they have been properly safety tested, they are
labeled to ensure the consumer's right-to-know, and the biotechnology
corporations that manufacture them are held responsible for any harm.

The campaign began on July 19 with the endorsement of more than 250
organizations and individuals, including consumer, environmental and public
health groups, as well as chefs, religious leaders, doctors, and scientists.
Planned activities include a series of reports highlighting the problems
with genetically engineered foods, channeling consumer comments to
government and corporate officials, demonstrations and other educational
events, and grassroots organizing.

The organizations that created GEFoodAlert are Center for Food Safety,
Friends of the Earth, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, National
Environmental Trust, Organic Consumers Association, Pesticide Action Network
North America, and the State Public Interest Research Groups.

Campaign Web site

The campaign launched a Web site: http://www.gefoodalert.org. The site
provides sample letters so that consumers can send comments to Campbell's
and Kellogg's and to FDA, fact sheets on health and environmental concerns
about genetically engineered foods, campaign updates, press materials and
information about the campaign.

Contact: PANNA.

PANUPS is a weekly email news service providing resource guides and
reporting on pesticide issues that don't always get coverage by the
mainstream media. It's produced by Pesticide Action Network North America, a
non-profit and non-governmental organization working to advance sustainable
alternatives to pesticides worldwide.

You can join our efforts! We gladly accept donations for our work and all
contributions are tax deductible in the United States. Visit our extensive
web site at http://www.panna.org to learn more about getting involved.

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Phone: (415) 981-1771
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