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Opposition to Engineered Wheat From Farmers and Consumers Worldwide Force Biotech Giant’s Retreat
Monday, May 10, 2004 - Monsanto announced today that it is pulling the plug on its RoundUp Ready (RR) genetically engineered wheat. The company announced quietly today that, after seven years of development and failed efforts to win over farmers and the international wheat market, they will discontinue all research and field trial activities on RR wheat. Monsanto’s application for commercialization remains pending with both U.S. and Canadian governments, but this major retreat signifies that the overwhelming opposition to the first GE wheat variety from U.S. farmers, and both domestic and international markets, was too great for the company to overcome. The pressure is now on Monsanto to withdraw its applications to commercialize RoundUp Ready wheat.
“Monsanto’s retreat is a huge victory for farmers and consumers in the U.S. and abroad,” said Heather Whitehead, National Director of the True Food Network. “Monsanto projected having RoundUp Ready wheat on the market by 2002. But after several years of trying to push it down the throats of farmers, buyers and the food industry, they have finally realized this is an unwanted technology.”
Monsanto’s RoundUp Ready wheat was genetically engineered to withstand the use of its RoundUp herbicide, Monsanto’s version of glyphosate, one of its best selling products. The possible commercialization of this wheat raised alarms around the world. Major export markets such as Japan not only said they would not purchase GE wheat, but that they would not purchase any U.S. wheat if GE varieties were commercialized due to fear of contamination. Food companies in North America, such as General Mills, George Weston Bakeries, King Arthur Flour and several others, expressed concerns about consumer acceptance. Some, like King Arthur Flour, even released company statements against its introduction, pledging not to use GE wheat in their products if it was indeed approved.
“RoundUp Ready wheat would have been the first new GE crop variety commercialized in nearly six years. This marks a clear turning point in the fight against this risky genetic experiment with our food, “ said Whitehead. “Consumers around the world have spoken, and they have said very clearly that they do not want genetically engineered foods.”
You can download the Backgrounder
GE Wheat: Contaminating Our Daily Bread
 (404 K)
Wheat growers, consumer groups and environmentalists
across the country and around the world are fighting to save our daily bread. U.S. wheat farmers launched a Legal Petition to stop the introduction of GE Wheat, and buyers around the world are rejecting genetically modified wheat.
You can join the True Food Network Daily Bread Campaign to help beat back biotech!
You can call the 1-800 numbers on the products you purchase, that include wheat as an ingredient. Ask them if they plan to accept GE wheat as an ingredient in their products, and tell them you will refuse to purchase their products if they do!
You can call the top 3 bread companies, responsible for most brands of bread sold in supermarkets:
Interstate Baking Company
1-816-502-4000
(Wonder Bread, Home Pride, Hostess, Dolly Madison, Merita, Drake's, Mrs Cubbison's, Marie Callender's, Beefsteak, Good Hearth, Bread Du Jour, Butternut, Colombo, Di Carlo, Holsum, Roman Meal, Sun Maid, Sun Beam and private label products)
Sara Lee Company
1-314-259-7000
(Earthgrains, Grant's Farm, IronKids, Rainbo, Break Cake and private label products)
Flowers Foods
1-229-226-9110
(ButterKrust, Cobblestone Mill, Nature's Own, Mrs. Smith's)
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