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NEWS

Cornell provides consumers "science-based" information on genetically engineered foods

Ithaca, New York
July 27,  2001

By Linda McCandless

Consumers who want to know more about the genetically engineered foods they may be eating should consult a brochure produced by Cornell University. "Genetically Engineered Foods 2001: A
Consumer Guide to What's in Store," is available at Wegmans' stores and Cornell Cooperative Extension offices throughout New York.

"The development of this brochure is part of Cornell University's commitment to educate the public and facilitate informed public discussion of the issues surrounding genetically engineered organisms," said Susan Henry, Ronald P. Lynch Dean of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at Cornell. "This brochure provides reliable, science-based information and puts it directly into the hands of consumers to help them make their own decisions about genetically engineered organisms."

At less than 1,000 words, the 4-page brochure addresses consumer concerns with an approach that Wegmans' corporate nutritionist, Jane Andrews, deems as reliable information presented in a "balanced manner."

"This brochure fills a real need in consumer education," said Andrews. "For those consumers who want to know more about this subject, this brochure gives them the needed information in a concise manner and points them to additional sources of reliable information."

The brochure answers four questions in brief: What is genetic engineering? Why are these products produced? What genetically engineered foods/ingredients are in food markets? Are genetically engineered foods safe to eat? Products that might contain ingredients made from genetically engineered plants are addressed crop by crop: soybean, corn, canola, cotton, potato, papaya, squash and zucchini. Dairy, meat products, and pharmaceuticals and their relationship to biotechnology are also discussed.

The brochure is a companion piece to two newly revamped Cornell web sites.
www.geo-pie.cornell.edu/ identifies a variety of issues about agricultural biotechnology. www.nysaes.cornell.edu/comm/gmo/ provides links to the brochure and other Cornell biotech publications as well as streaming video by 29 presenters from the Cornell Conference on Agricultural Biotechnology Conference held last November. At that conference,
presentations and town hall discussions addressed the development of biotechnology, foods and food safety, environmental issues, food systems, agricultural biotechnology in the developing world, and communicating information on agricultural biotechnology.

The educational initiative is a collaborative effort by Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Cornell Cooperative Extension's Genetically Engineered Organisms Public Issues Education Project.

Linda McCandless, Director E-mail: llm3@cornell.edu
Communications Services Office: 315-787-2417
NYS Agricultural Experiment Station Cell: 607-227-5920
Jordan Hall 360 North Street Fax: 315-787-2276
Geneva, NY 14456-0462
http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/ 

Cornell University news release
N3685

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