Maui GMO Panel To Discuss Importance of Food Labeling

Photo: Mark Fergusson with the Maui GMO Panel

Honolulu, HI ( Sept. 19, 2012) -- A panel discussion about the need for labeling foods containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) will be held at the Maui Waena Intermediate School, 795 Onehee Ave. on Saturday Oct. 6th, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm. The presentation, "Let's Eat Non-GMO: The Importance of Labeling," is being co-sponsored by Seeds of Truth and Down to Earth ALL VEGETARIAN Organic & Natural.

Presenters will be Dr. Melissa Yee, Seeds of Truth, Courtney Bruch, GMO-Free Maui, Mark Fergusson, Down to Earth Chief Vegetarian Officer (CEO/CFO), Dr. Lorrin Pang, and Vince Mina, Maui Organic Farmer.

"The simple truth is that most people want the right to choose what they eat and what they feed their families," says Fergusson. "For consumers to make informed decisions, the public deserves a truthful marketplace."

"Few choices in our daily lives are as important as the food choices we make for ourselves and our families. We should be the ones in control, not government. It's wrong for government to deny us our right to know. Our right to know what is in the food we are buying and our right to choose our preferred food should not be usurped for any reason," he adds.

The presenters will explain why consumers should be concerned that over 75% of processed foods contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs). They will discuss what GMOs are, what foods contain GMOs, why they should be labeled, and the health and environmental risks posed by genetic modification. There will be time for questions about GMOs versus natural and organic foods.

For more information call Down to Earth Community Outreach (808) 947-3249 or visit them on Facebook /DownToearthHI; Dr. Melissa Yee, Seeds of Truth (808) 292-1179 or visit them on Facebook /SeedsofTruth.

The first Down to Earth store opened in 1977 in Wailuku, Maui. Today, it is Hawaii's leading all-vegetarian organic and natural food store chain with five locations: Honolulu, Kailua, Pearlridge, and Kapolei on Oahu, and Kahului at 305 Dairy Rd. For more information, visit www.downtoearth.org