Genetically engineered sugar - Soon at an outlet near you

"Franken-sugar" -- or genetically engineered sugar -- will make its way to stores this year, alerts Citizens for Health.

So much for claims made in 2001 by Hershey's, M&M Mars, and American Crystal Sugar that they wouldn't use genetically engineered sugar.

"But now that sugar beets are close to being planted commercially, they have made no such assurances," the citizens group bemoans.

Isn't it bad enough that Americans are over-dosing on regular sugar? Now companies want to get genetically engineered sugar into the marketplace, too?

This is cause for alarm, Citizens for Health warns.

"Unlike traditional breeding, genetic engineering creates new life forms that would never occur in nature, creating new and unpredictable health and environmental risks. Genes from bacteria, viruses, plants, animals - even humans - have already been inserted into common food crops, like corn, soy, and canola, to create `Frankencrops.' Now companies like Monsanto have set their sights on our sugar."

Besides, the consumer organization points out that Monsanto's new Roundup Ready sugar beet was actually "genetically engineered to survive direct application of their own controversial broad-spectrum herbicide, Roundup."

It gets even worse, according to Citizens for Health:

"Studies indicate farmers planting the "Roundup Ready" versions of corn and soy spray large amounts of the herbicide, contaminating both soil and water. Farmers planting GE sugar beets are told they may be able to apply the herbicide up to five times per year. Sugar beets are grown on 1.4 million acres by 12,000 farmers in the U.S. from Oregon to Minnesota.

"Now, at the request of Monsanto, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency increased the allowable amount of glyphosate residues on sugar beetroots by an unbelievable 5000%. (Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Roundup). Sugar is extracted from the beet's root, and the result is more glyphosate pesticide in our sugar. This is not good news for those who want to use sugar, or products containing sugar, without the threat of ingesting toxic weed killer."

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