--- begin forwarded text >Good news! >This morning the Minneapolis City Council adopted a resolution calling for >labeling genetically modified foods, and encouraging the inclusion of >organically-grown food options in the public schools and other City agencies. ----- Original Message ----- From: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Sunday, August 13, 2000 Subject: resolution in .txt format Resolution No. URGING THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS TO GIVE PREFERENCE TO CERTIFIED ORGANIC FOOD VENDORS AND TO URGE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO LABEL AND TEST GENETICALLY ENGINEERED (G.E.) FOODS, AS WELL AS TO ASSIGN LIABILITY TO THE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPERS OF G.E. TECHNOLOGY. WHEREAS, consumers of any food product have the right to complete confidence and thorough knowledge of any ingredient in their food or other products; and WHEREAS, genetically engineered (g.e.) foods have not been adequately tested by any federal agency for long-term impacts on human health or the environment; and WHEREAS, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suggests only that companies engineering foods state that g.e. foods are safe, but requires no further testing; and WHEREAS, numerous bioengineers and related distinguished scientists have gone on record stating this technology clearly is different from traditional breeding methods and is highly probable to exhibit a host of undesirable health and environmental risk factors, WHEREAS, competent scientific researchers have suggested that g.e. foods, seed, and other products could pose risks to the environment, including damaged soil ecology, harmful effects to wildlife, increased use of farm chemicals, and other potential effects; and WHEREAS, scientists and other researchers have indicated that g.e. crops may harm beneficial insect species, such as Monarch butterflies, as well as threatened and endangered insect species; and WHEREAS, g.e. materials could have serious impacts on levels of toxins in food, antibiotic resistance, cancer, immuno-suppression, and allergic reactions, and may be particularly threatening to children and the elderly ; and WHEREAS, in the event of a serious health impact and an ensuing lawsuit, the federal government has not yet assigned liability to the commercial developers of g.e. foods; and WHEREAS, g.e. foods are growing in prevalence in the United States and around the world, without sufficient regulation or research; and WHEREAS, many community organizations, representing farmers and sustainable agriculture interests, as well as consumers, environmentalists and others, have argued for a moratorium on g.e. foods (http://www.GEFoodAlert.org), and some countries have effectively-if not officially-instituted a moratorium, including France, Italy, Denmark, Greece, and Luxembourg ; and WHEREAS, the European Commission has agreed on terms to guarantee the labeling of g.e. foods; and RESOLVED, that the City Council of Minneapolis hereby requests the Mayor and the Board of Supervisors? to write a letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and United Stated Department of Agriculture (USDA) stating that all g.e. foods should be labeled clearly, that all g.e. material should be thoroughly researched and regulated, that liability should be assigned to the commercial developers of g.e. foods, and that, until these materials are proven safe, that the FDA, the EPA, and the USDA should establish a moratorium on these products; and, be it FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Minneapolis City Council endorses House Bills 3883 named the "Genetically Engineered Food Safety Act," and 3377 and its companion Senate Bill 2080 named the "Genetically Engineered Food Right-to-Know Act." FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council urges the Mayor and the Board of Supervisors to request that all City departments and agencies, including those in City Hall, give preference to certified organic food vendors during any and all contract negotiations; and, be it FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council urges the Mayor and the Board of Supervisors to require that, by January of 2001, special events held by City departments and City agencies, including those in City Hall, give preference to caterers that avoid g.e. ingredients and use certified organic foods and Minnesota Grown organic foods; and, be it FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Commission on the Environment urges the Mayor and the Board of Supervisors to urge the Minneapolis School District to serve certified organic lunches; and, be it FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council urges the Mayor and the Board of Supervisors to request that the Department of Consumer Assurance provide educational materials about g.e. foods to grocers and where possible to the general public in Minneapolis. --- end forwarded text -- ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Rex L. 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