I pledge to help protect our food from contamination by unwanted drugs and chemicals!
USDA Caves to Pressure: Second Chance to Protect Our Food
        Last fall the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) tried to rush through new regulations, including those relating to pharma crops--crops genetically engineered to produce pharmaceuticals and industrial chemicals. After thousands of letters from UCS activists and others, the USDA has been forced to reopen the public comment period.
        UCS scientists and independent experts agree that if food crops such as corn and rice are engineered to produce drugs and other chemicals and grown outdoors, these substances are very likely to contaminate the food supply and pose serious human health and environmental risks for years to come.
        This is your chance to tell the new administration that the USDA’s proposal will significantly weaken restrictions on pharma crops and threaten our nation’s food supply. We need stronger—not weaker—regulations for these dangerous crops!
Sincerely,
Jenn Palembas, National Field Organizer
Food and Environment Program

Last fall, the previous administration proposed regulations that would weaken oversight of pharma crops--genetically engineered crops that produce drugs and industrial chemicals. I urge the new administration to withdraw this proposal and craft new rules that protect our food supply.
        The current proposal moves the USDA in the wrong direction on pharma crops. Rather than weaken current regulations, the department should protect the food supply from pharma crops by instituting a ban on the outdoor production of these drugs and industrial chemicals in crops that are also human food staples, like corn and rice.
        Pharma crop regulations are already too weak; yet this proposal will remove the mandatory requirements that are currently in place and instead allow agency officials wide discretion to declare certain pharma crop substances as low risk and therefore subject to minimal control.
        This is the new administration’s chance to let consumers like me know that you intend to protect our food supply. I urge you to withdraw these weaker pharma crop regulations and instead adopt a ban on the outdoor production of these substances in food crops.

Take Action Write today to urge Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to protect our food from contamination by unwanted drugs and chemicals!
Tell A Friend Please pass this alert along to your friends and family.
DonateThe Union of Concerned Scientists relies on individuals like you to support our research and advocacy. Join us to promote practical, science-based environmental and security solutions. Become a member today.