On August 8, 2007, Greenpeace activists made a 61-metre long question mark in a field containing genetically engineered (GE) corn near Abbotsford, BC to highlight the absence of GE food labelling in Canada.

Greenpeace located the question mark in the riding of BC minister of public safety and solicitor general John Les, and submitted a report on GE toxicity to health minister George Abbott. Both were made public at a news conference that morning, which called on British Columbians to sign a petition demanding the Premier adopt mandatory labelling for the province.

`We`re asking the Ministers to put consumers first and put labels on GE products,` said Josh Brandon, agriculture campaigner with Greenpeace. `People have the right to know what`s in their food, especially when GE foods have been associated with health risks.`

Greenpeace`s report to the `Conversation on Health,` a public consultation led by the health ministry, compiles information on the toxicity of three varieties of GE corn grown and sold in Canada. It cites a French research institute`s findings that Monsanto`s NK603 corn - the corn located in the Abbotsford field - was found to be toxic to rats in recent clinical trials. Peer reviewed research cited in the report also found immune response abnormalities in salmon and further evidence of toxicity in rats for Monsanto`s MON810 and MON863 corn.

`Monsanto GE corn is a dangerous product. We have evidence it is toxic in rat feeding trials. Genetically engineered crops also spread throughout the environment and the food system without control. Greenpeace has labelled this field with a question mark to remind people genetic contamination is out there and it needs to be stopped,` said Brandon.

Recent polls in Quebec and BC have shown overwhelming support for mandatory labelling of GE foods. In Quebec, a Leger Marketing poll released in May showed 86 per cent support for mandatory labelling. A Strategic Communications poll released in January showed 79 per cent of British Columbians want mandatory labelling before the next provincial election.

Forty countries around the world already have mandatory labelling legislation, including Europe, South Korea, Japan and Australia. Last year, the Quebec government released a report showing that the cost of GE labelling would be only a fraction of previous estimates done by industry. And the BC Provincial Health Officer has already recommended mandatory labelling.

Frpm a press release
For more information:
Josh Brandon
Genetic Engineering Campaigner
Greenpeace Canada
Ph: 604-253-7701 ext. 20
E-mail: josh.brandon@yto.greenpeace.org

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