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This letter is designed to be sent to Ben Bradshaw; Exeter's MP. Change it to your own MP if you do not live in Exeter.
Ben Bradshaw MP Dear Mr Bradshaw,
Genetically Engineered FoodI am writing to express my deep concern about the speed at which genetically engineered food and crops are being introduced into the UK. This is a new technology and we still don't know what the long term impacts will be to either human health or the environment, or indeed to the stability of future food supply. The Government's wildlife advisers, English Nature, have called for a moratorium on genetically engineered crops because of their concerns about the impact on biodiversity in our countryside. Herbicide resistant genes can also transfer to wild relatives of the crop, creating the possibility of herbicide resistant "superweeds". Important research on the health impacts of genetically engineered foods in humans and animals, and the results of long term feeding studies, are still not available. This indicates to me that the commercialisation of genetically engineered food and crops is premature. I am therefore writing to ask you to add your support for the introduction of a five year moratorium on crop trials and imports. This will allow the Government to conduct research into the possible impacts and enable well informed public debate on whether we need to use this technology to produce food. The latest MORI poll (June 1998) found that 77% of people wanted to see a ban on the growing of genetically engineered crops until their environmental impacts have been fully assessed. I would be grateful if you could take my concerns to the relevant minister and also support the call for the moratorium.
Yours sincerely,
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