Recent Center for Food Safety Victories
Halting GE Alfalfa: In this successful CFS legal case, for the first time in history a court ordered the halting of plantings of a new genetically engineered crop (alfalfa). In 2007, a U.S. District Court in California ruled that USDA illegally approved GE alfalfa without first conducting a full Environmental Impact Statement. As anticipated, Monsanto appealed the case, not once but twice. CFS defended its victory and, fortunately, in June 2009 the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the lower court decision, denying both of Monsanto’s appeals, thus upholding a 2-year old nationwide ban on the planting of genetically-engineered Roundup Ready alfalfa.Stopping GE Sugar Beets: In January 2008, CFS filed a lawsuit against USDA on behalf of farmers and conservation groups challenging the deregulation of herbicide-tolerant “Roundup Ready” sugar beets. On September 21, 2009, CFS prevailed and a Federal Court ruled that the Bush Administration’s approval of genetically engineered (GE) “RoundUp Ready” sugar beets was unlawful. The Court ordered USDA to conduct a rigorous assessment of the environmental and economic impacts of the crop on farmers and the environment. This represents another huge victory for CFS and protecting consumers and the environment from the hazards of GE crops. More than 100 food companies have also signed on to our Non-GM Beet Sugar Registry, pledging to avoid GE beet sugar in their products.
Halting GE Crops in Wildlife Refuges: In another successful CFS case in 2009, a Delaware District Court Judge found that the national Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) violated major environmental laws by failing to conduct any environmental review, and violated the Administrative Procedure Act by failing to comply with the FWS policy prohibiting the use of GE crops that are not “essential to accomplishing refuge purpose(s).” Judge Sleet issued a permanent injunction to halt the planting of GE crops, finding “it is undisputed that farming with genetically modified crops at Prime Hook [Wildlife Refuge] poses significant environmental risks.”
Preserving rBGH-Free Labels on Dairy Products: CFS has been rallying the public against state-by-state efforts to ban rbGH-free labels on dairy products. CFS has used its grassroots True Food Network to flood the states affected with public comments and complaints. As a result of pressure from CFS members and other concerned citizens, such rules to eliminate rbGH labels have been dismissed in Pennsylvania, Indiana, New Jersey, Utah, Kansas, Missouri and New York due to overwhelming consumer opposition.
Passing California Law to Protect Farmers from the Hazards of GE Crops: CFS’s California office was one of the leading organizations sponsoring farmer protection legislation that successfully passed in 2008. The law provides protections for farmers that are growing GE crops, as it establishes a protocol for the patent holder (i.e. Monsanto) entering the farmers land and taking samples of crops, and also provides protections to farmers to protect them from patent infringement lawsuits by Monsanto.
I am so proud of the individuals who have taken the time to try and help with the efforts of preserving our right to healthy foods. Also, the support for our growers and US farmers. Grass root efforts do work when we all do our little part.
The crooks that go by the name Monsanto need to be put out of business! How dare they threaten the land with their junk science.. leave nature be, she does just fine on her own. sigh.
Bravo!!
The efforts of CFS are greatly appreciated. To stop a mega corp. from “running the show” is difficult to say the least, this is timely and what’s needed in the world.
We are constanly educating our customers, promoting “real” food, and are greatful for your efforts.
Keep fighting the good fight!!
I just watched the Food Inc. movie, i can not believe that there is a patent on life, .. seeds .. a natural thing that occurs in nature . And in doing so , has hurt our farmers of the world. No one should have the right to patent nature.
I agree.. that Monsanto should be put out of business.. and the farmers have their rights back… i want to thank the people that has brought all this to light, and the ones in there fighting for our future, in preserving the right to eating healthy foods as we all should.
I am very new to all this, and always knew that something wasnt right in the vegetable market at local stores (big chains)..now i know. ..
I will learn to work my dirt and sow my own seeds. and teach my children and others as well. and make SURE it is not Monsanto related by any means.
Thank you for all that you do!! I’m so glad there are still people out there fighting for the truth! Let’s fight to shut down Monstanto!!!!!!!
[...] As Zelig Golden continued the presentation, he explained that genetic engineering is more than a technology problem, it’s a culture war. Just as Rachel Carson outed pesticides, the Center for Food Safety and other organizations are working to hold agricultural biotechnology corporations like Monsanto accountable. Golden then provided an overview of the five important victories won by the Center for Food Safety’s legal team. A complete list of these victories can be found here. [...]
WELL DONE on a must-see documentary……
As a family we read all labels and buy organic and I (mom) do not eat meat because I love animals. However, after watching Foodinc – I will never view tomatoes in the same way again…..( I love tomato juices but will need to find something else to drink!!! )
We need to stand together and vote with our wallets and support those who are brave enough to take the road less travelled…. Over the weekend was watching some consumers in a Canadian supermarket, and was amazed how some would still buy NON-organic lettuce – and the price difference = 30 cents !!! Come on guys, lets : MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE – MAKE A DIFFERENCE – CHANGE THE WORLD….. because one person CAN change the world…….
Rally against Monsanto. The more hate mail they receive the more we annoy them! Let them know the public will not stand for these “FRANKENFOODS”!!!!
We demand a choice! We have the RIGHT to know what we are consuming. These companies think we are ignorant to the fact that they are destroying the natural flow of environment, destroying the future of our natural food supply, and creating allergies amongst the population. This cannot be tolerated no longer. We need to fight back!!
yeah really, enough of these companies destroying the basic normal things in life, let them at least have to adhere to some rules.
If they want to sell genetically modified things, everything that gets made even in part from these should be forced to have some GM or GE label on them, everywhere in the supermarket.
Let’s see how long they stay in business then.
But the USDA/FDA are so corrupt, guess it’s not going to happen
Thank you so much for taking the time and energy to protect us. It means a lot, and I hope that my kids are able to grow up in a world where they know what they are putting in their bodies!
We all have to continue to be vigilant in protecting our food supply from GMOs and keeping an eye on big corp.They are shameless and have no conscience about trashing human health and the environment.
Thank you to all of those fighting the good fight, we need to keep organic fresh food readily available. Let’s not allow corporations like Monsanto to take over our food.
I would really like to know what the people on the board of directors at Monsanto are having for dinner tonight.
How much money do they have to stuff into their pockets before they realize that their complete and utter lack of morality effects their families as well as ours?
My boyfriend and I just watched Food Inc. also, and were disgusted by how animals, people and the environment were treated. Being a chef I have always tried to stay sustainable in everything I make, but now I will make sure that everyone knows about GMO food’s and the meat businesses! Down with monsanto ( do they really deserve to be capitalized?!)
i love this site soo much im doing this report and its a great thing to offer to the community about the earth i just love mother nature and all it has to offer and its fun i am an activist for this and if anybody want to know about my mission feel free to contact me
For those of you who were as sickened and angered as I was when I watched Food, Inc., take a look at another documentary available through Amazon called “The World According to Monsanto”. You will be shocked and appalled at how Monsanto is now spreading their unabated control around the world. It’s downright scary.
Thanks CFS for all you are doing to stop this madness.
A couple of websites to check out:
http://www.organicconsumers.org/monlink.cfm for the “Millions Against Monsanto” group.
http://www.seedsofchange.com/ for “Seeds of Change” where you can order organic and heirloom garden seeds.
As I sit here on my computer. I feel like the food industry is out of control. Somtimes I truly don’t feel like eating. The more I educate myself, the more I feel sick. I am from New York, and I travel to other places, just to see if i can find better quality food.
Somtimes I see these bussiness owners looking at me as I take a look at the meat section. I just walk out sometimes. Its disgusting and its wrong to sell food, that they themselves would not feed their families.
Well that’s that’s why I am here, to help bring some change as a community of people who have the same concerns.
Another documentary I recommend is ‘The World According to Monsanto”. Just search for it on Google videos. It aired on television in France last year.
Oh, another one is “The Future of Food”. You can find it on Hulu.com.
It’s so inspiring to part of this movement and I just want to remind us all that what we give our attention to (Monsanto) grows. Let us focus on the results we yearn for as opposed to contaminating our body and the world with more hate.
Blessings
I am gratified and uplifted by the victories achieved through hard work, time, and energy. Thank you for protecting and saving families everywhere– (Good point, Jesse! :-) * ) . I have signed your petitions and will do everything I can to stop the spread of GM (genetically modified crops), which are both harmful to the environment and severely dangerous to our health. See my website (above) for information on the health risks and dangers of GM (GE) food.
Website:
ttp://howtoeathealthyguidetohealth.health.officelive.com/dangersofgeneticallymodifiedfood.aspx
CLEANING UP THE USDA & EPA & … It’s time to enact laws prohibiting ex employees, lawyers, etc., from gaining jobs in the institutions of OUR govenment that are supposed to work for the good of the country. The USDA, EPA and other governmental organizations have been corrupted by special interest’s personnel taking up key positions, and this is where they gain their real power and why it is so hard to stop the poisoning of our food chain and our environment. They – in great part – run our government.
These Genetically Modified seeds/foods seem to have many rights without any responsibilities. Why has this been allowed to happened ?
Everywhere else each right has a corresponding
responsibility and regulations/laws show the balance and responsibilities of the users.
I am confused about this aspect of GM business.
Thank-you! Thank-you! Thank-you! Thank-you! Thank-you!! Thank-you!!
Why are GM foods allowed to be labeled “100% Natural”?