Chefs support GE labeling

In May 2000, past winners of the James Beard Foundation's Chef of the Year Award helped launch the "Keep Nature Natural" campaign, aimed at demanding mandatory FDA labeling and environmental testing of genetically engineered foods.

Chefs Rick Bayless, Larry Forgione, Charlie Trotter and Alice Waters added their voices to the campaign because of concerns that genetic engineering can lower food quality. "It is important that citizens let the government know how they feel about genetically engineered food," says Trotter. "I have concerns that this untested technology diminishes the purity and taste of food."

"I don't want to buy and serve genetically engineered foods, yet because there is no labeling for these products, that is challenging to do," says Bayless. "The requests for mandatory labeling and safety testing are reasonable steps for the FDA to take."

For more information, contact Citizens for Health at 800-357-2211 or visit www.citizens.org.

— Mike Liguori
 

Photography by: Laurie Smith