Welcome to our latest "Feelin’ Good Naturally" update. Our goal is to deliver a consistent informative bulletin on leading a healthier lifestyle.  We had great response to our last newsletter, so we’re excited to bring you our latest!  Thanks for the positive feedback.  Our last newsletter went to 5,000 people devoted to a healthy lifestyle. This edition is going out to almost 7,000 families, and on the Internet, so we’re on the grow!

Working in the business, we feel strongly about Genetically Modified Foods.  You’ve probably heard about them in the news.  Genetically modified foods (or GMO’s) are foods we eat that contain genetic material (DNA) from foreign organisms such as fish, bacteria, animals or other plants.  The DNA is engineered into the plant to generate specific traits that wouldn’t normally occur in that food.

The biotech and chemical companies producing these altered foods would have us believe that this industry is motivated by noble goals such as improving health and alleviating world hunger.  We believe they are often profit motivated without regard to potential risks or future effects to society.

One of our biggest concerns is that these foods are not labeled when you pick them up on the supermarket shelves.  You don’t even know you’re purchasing GM foods!  We can’t decide for ourselves whether we want to eat them or not, because they aren’t labeled!

Secondly, we feel that genetic engineering may produce unforeseen allergens in foods because engineered food contain proteins that would not normally occur in that food.

One of our major concerns is that the main foods being subjected to this technology are corn, potatoes, and soy beans – staples in our diet and the foods most often given to children even before their digestive systems have matured.

Furthermore, we’re concerned that our farmers, including our Peace Country Farmers; are being pressured to grow GM Foods.  For instance, do you hear "Round Up Ready Canola" advertised on the radio?  Round Up Ready Canola is a Canola that has been engineered to be resistant to the herbicide Round Up.  Our farmers are being wooed to plant these genetically modified seeds.  In fact 70% of Canola grown in Canada is now genetically modified, but we question whether the world market is really asking for these products.  You’ve probably heard that GM foods are now banned from import in Britain, and we think they’re a step ahead of us.  Last summer Canola prices rose in Australia but fell in Canada.  Why?  Our concerns are that non–modified Australian canola is more in demand than the Canadian modified canola.

As you can see this is a huge issue and we haven’t even discussed the environmental concerns such as cross pollination and increasing herbicide resistance.  In the meantime the conglomerates are pushing this technology down the throats of unsuspecting consumers.  We want to do our part, and that’s why we have included this topic in our newsletter.

What can you do? You can first of all think about this subject and discuss with your family and friends.  In our store you’ll find an information brochure with more detail on the topic, and a form to fill out that we’ll mail to the Minister of Agriculture.  The form addresses labeling and the future direction of GM Foods.  It’s an investment our stores have undertaken to encourage like-minded individuals to learn and make an informed decision. We have to be sure that these are the foods we want to feed to your children.