Sugar derived from genetically-modified sugar beets is
turning out to be a big no-no, which has caused tons of the stuff to sit
around untouched. The genetically-modified seed has been approved in the U.S.,
but sugar refiners and candy manufacturers refuse to use the sugar derived from it until controversy dies
down. The trend has been a major setback for several biotechnical firms,
including Monsanto and Aventis, as well as a small number of farmers who
produce the plants, of which the non-genetically-modified variety account for
half of the sugar intake of the United States.
For additional information refer to The
Wall Street Journal or go to http://www.wsj.com.
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According to this article, the food industry has soured
on genetically modified sugar. Hundreds
of thousands of pounds of bioengineered seeds for growing herbicide-tolerant
sugar beet plants are gathering dust. The
nation's sugar refiners are telling their farmers to avoid the seed even
though it has been cleared by U.S. regulators.
Sugar executives say many of their customers -- candy and food
manufacturers -- aren't willing to accept bioengineered sugar until the debate
over the safety of crop biotechnology dies down.
"We did ask farmers not to grow GM sugar
beets," said John Long, a spokesman for Hershey Foods Corp. perception of
GM crops has been fully resolved," he said.
M&M/Mars said that it also doesn't want to use sugar from GM sugar
beets.
According to this article, sugar beets are the source
of roughly half of the granular sugar consumed in the U.S.
Objections by environmental and consumer groups about this first wave
of GM crops are making many food firms leery about being identified with the
technology.
Public pressure is making a difference! Monsanto and Aventis can't market
their GE sugar beet seeds in the US because of environmental and consumer group concerns. We are making a difference and this proves it.
Neil Carman
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