Explore Coverage

Living Maxwell

Archive

TAKE ACTION: Tell the USDA to Say “No” to Genetically-Engineered Apples…..That Don’t Turn Brown

If you’re a citizen of the U.S., you know that apple pie, baseball, and July 4th day parades are just a few examples of classic Americana.

But if a biotechnology company gets its way, one of these iconic symbols will lose its purity forever and could put the health of our children at risk.

A Canadian company is close to receiving USDA approval for a genetically-engineered (GE) apple. And the most scary part about this GE-apple is that it doesn’t turn brown when sliced open, a normal part of the oxidation process.

Does the apple industry want this GE-apple?

Absolutely not.

The U.S. Apple Association, Northwest Horticultural Council (which represents Washington apple growers, who grow over 60% of the apples in the U.S.), British Columbia Fruit Growers Association and other grower groups have already voiced their disapproval of these GE-apples due to the negative impact they could have on farmers growing organic and non-GE apples, and the apple industry as a whole.

Could these GE-apples contaminate nearby organic apple farms and other non-GE apple farms?

Yes.

And if this happens, these organic apple orchards will lose their organic certification, putting their owners in serious financial peril and decreasing the amount of organic apples in the marketplace.

Could these unlabeled GE-apples end up being consumed by innocent babies and kids?

Yes.

They could find their way into non-GE fruit slices, juice, baby foods or apple sauce at the processing level, products predominantly consumed by children and babies who are at increased risk for any adverse health effects.

How do we know that these apples are safe for human consumption? 

We don’t know that they are safe for human consumption. No long-terms studies on humans ever been conducted on these GE-apples.

Furthermore, a group of leading European scientists recently declared that there is “no consensus” on GMO safety, contrary to what the food industry would like us to believe.

Who benefits from a GE-apple?

The biotech company making this extremely unnecessary food product, Okanagan, and the chemical companies who are selling the toxic pesticides to be sprayed on it.

From what I have read, Okanagan’s non-browning “Arctic” apple would be first commercialized in Granny Smith and Golden Delicious varieties.

What can you do to stop this GE-apple from ever hitting the market?

Click HERE and tell the USDA not to approve this very risky fruit. The deadline to comment is December 16th, so it is important that you act quickly.

Or, if you want to comment directly to the USDA, you can do so by clicking HERE.

Thank you for your support and please forward this post to people in your network. It is imperative that the USDA hears from every single one of us.

A message from E3Live

"My Everyday, Must-Have Green Organic Aquabotanical"

The best testimonial that I can give is that I drink this every single day, as it impacts my mood in an incredibly positive way.

E3Live + BrainON is certified organic, fresh-frozen AFA (Aphanizomenon flos-aquae) with a concentrated, aqueous, organic extract of Phenylethylamine and Phycocyanin.

Learn more.

livingmaxwell: a guide to organic food & drink