AN OPEN LETTER TO MONSANTO, MCDONALD'S AND OTHER PURVEYORS OF GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FAST FOOD

To whom it may concern:

I used to enjoy fast food. The thing is, I stopped enjoying it when I found out what was in it: Trans-fatty acids, genetically engineered food products (hereinafter referred to as g-e), bovine and ovine growth hormones, etc. And I'm not happy--to put it as mildly as possible--about the conditions most cows, pigs and chickens are kept in.

Obviously, some small changes have occured over the last few years; in particular, more vegetarian meals are being offered. I commend this. But little or nothing of the basic problems have changed. There are still too many trans-fatty acids, too much use of butter and margarine, and the conditions that most feed animals experience are as barbaric as ever.

I was at the anti-war march in DC on 10/26 with some Libertarian associates. They asked me about all the anti-McDonalds signs and shirts. I explained that these people were tired of being given crap--even if it's cheap--and told that it's as good as organic or haute cuisine. I added that the main objection people have to g-e foods is that they're not being told which food products contain g-e elements. This raises the possibility in many people's minds that the reason they're not being fully informed about the presence of g-e elements in their food is because there's something wrong with them.

And there's some truth to that. There are early indications of increased allergic reactions due to cross-bonding of discrete genetic materials (peanut genes to corn, for example). Also, a farmer in Canada was sued by Monsanto--one of the largest manufacturers of g-e foods--for, basically, being in the way of some g-e pollen that got loose from one of Monsanto's farms. The judge found for Monsanto. (You can find out more about this case and the facts about g-e foods at www.garynull.com.) And Monsanto's g-e'd potato is legally registered as a poison because it contains a bacterial gene named Bt that produces a protein which is inimical to Colorado potato beetles. Kinds makes you overstand why Monsanto et.al. don't want foods containing g-e elements to be so labeled.

The reasons I don't trust corporations like Monsanto, McDonald's et.al. is because they have not proven themselves trustworthy by practicing full disclosure. And their token attempts at diversity by introducing veggie meals are just that. It's a nice first step, but that's all that it is. These particular corporations and their ilk need to step up and be completely honest with consumers about what's in the food they're selling. (I am *not* endorsing the disclosure of proprietary information unless there is a possibility of harm; i.e., I don't really care what herbs and spices KFC uses in their chicken recipe as long as they aren't carcinogenic or toxic.)

I would consider it a great favor if you would respond to this open letter by "opening your books" to the American public and voluntary disclose the contents of your food products. Otherwise, I shall conclude that you wish to continue to create a climate of distrust about the safety of your products.

I welcome a response from you on this matter.

Sincerely yours

Andrew Williams