Genetically Engineered Food: Rush to Ruin?
       By Ariane van Buren
       This appeared as an Op Ed piece in USA Today in February 2000

                 
Across the U.S. people unknowingly consume genetically engineered food,
even though its safety has not been proven. Already 40% of corn and 60% of
soybeans planted in the U.S. are genetically engineered.

                 
The effects on humans, plants, animals, or insects are not understood.
"Splicing" genes means bombarding them into thousands entirely different
species - even from animals to plants - with many more deformations than
successes, and with no knowledge of the long-term effects. No one should
be guinea pigs in this experiment - least of all innocent parents feeding
their babies with formula (70% of which is already engineered).

Inevitably, food and product safety concerns become business issues. In
Europe, growing numbers of people reject this food. In Europe companies
are responding. Gerber, McDonald's, Burger King and KFC eliminated
genetically engineered corn and soybeans. Frito-Lay told farmers not to
plant these crops. Even the food service company operating Monsanto's
London cafeteria has banned genetically modified food so that "the
customer can feel confident in the food we serve."

Shareholders with over $150 billion in stock, coordinated by the
Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, are requesting companies
not to market genetically engineered food until long-term safety is
assured. Meanwhile, these shareholders are asking companies to label
this food to alert people who for allergic, religious or other reasons
must know what they are eating.
                 
Who are the manufacturers? Monsanto, DuPont, Dow, American Home Products,
Hoechst, Novartis, Rhone Poulenc, and Schering. Who is selling this food?
Albertson's, Archer Daniels Midland, Bestfoods, CocaCola, General Mills,
Heinz, Kellogg, Kroger, McDonald's, Pepsico, Philip Morris (Kraft Foods),
Procter & Gamble, Quaker Oats, Safeway, Sara Lee and Tricon Global
Restaurants (Pizza Hut, KFC, Taco Bell).
                 
Why rush unproven products to market? When a product is rejected by
consumers or proven unsafe, shareholders are left holding the bag.

Whatever your concern - family, the environment, plants, animals, or the
future of a business - safety testing must come first.


--Ariane van Buren, PhD, Environmental Director of the Interfaith Center
on Corporate  Responsibility, coordinates the shareholder resolutions on
genetically engineered food. Copyright 2001 Interfaith Center on Corporate
Responsibility. All rights reserved.

Yale owned GMO producers:
Company                    	Value			Shares
      
AMERICAN HOME PROD. CORP. 	$1,282,000          	20,176.00        
PHILIP MORRIS COS. INC.      $2,847,000    		64,712.00        
DOW CHEMICAL CO.               $238,000	             6,495.00        

Source: www.sec.gov     02/12/2001