New Genetically Engineered Vanilla to Hit The Ice Cream Shop Near You

What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? Do you like chocolate with real cocoa, milk and eggs? How about a rich creamy vanilla that is made with genetically engineered yeast that excretes a vanilla-like tasting substance instead of vanilla from a vanilla bean?

Mmmm.. yeah, sure, that sounds just marvelous darling….

NOT!

Yes, ladies and gentleman, Big Bio-tech is at it again, trying to “save the world” and such with their freakish, Frankenstein-ish creations.

I have just become aware of a new creation that may hit your local ice cream shop or may be hidden in that birthday cake you bought from the grocery store. Heck, it may even be in that “natural” scented vanilla candle or that special warm and cozy vanilla perfume you wear.

It is called Synbio Vanilla.

 

Synbio Vanilla the New “Natural” Vanilla Flavoring

Evolva is the company that has taken bio-engineering to a whole new extreme and cr

eated this freakishly non-natural synthetic vanilla flavor. (As an FYI- this would be the first time use of a synthetic biology in our food) I have not heard of Evolva so I went to their website and noticed they claim they “are active in consumer healthcare and nutrition as well as in pharma.” I’m not quite sure if you can be in the field of consumer healthcare and be in the field of pharma. To me that just seems like a big red flag screaming, “CONFLICT OF INTEREST!”

Anyhoo…

Real vanilla comes from seed pods of the vanilla orchard which can be found in tropical and subtropical regions. Synbio Vanilla on the other hand, comes from a genetically engineered fermented yeast and synthetic DNA which can be found in a white walled laboratory with bio-technology scientists and researchers staring at it.

Yum… laboratory made, genetically engineered yeast that excretes vanilla flavor. I just have one word for this freakish thing: FrankenVanilla.

I wonder which is better quality… You don’t think it would take a rocket scientist to figure that one out, do you?

So This FrankenVanilla… Will it Be Labeled?

Ha.. Ha.. Hahahaha… That is funny. Don’t you know?

The FDA does not have to put any product through their own safety test unless the manufacturer tells them there may be an issue or the FDA feels there may be some sort of bad repercussion. Riiiiiggghhhhtttt… Can you imagine a company like Monsanto giving their product to the FDA to approve with a letter saying “There may be dangerous outcomes if this product is approved.” Pfffhhhtt.. Uh huh.

In the land of butterflies that are not dying from pesticides and flowers, this could possibly happen. BUT, we are not in that kind of land and I think there is no way a bio-tech company would tell the FDA they think their product is dangerous in any way. Just read this article in US Today about GMOs to see the quote about approving foods.

Plus, we all know companies like Monsanto do not believe they should “have to vouchsafe the safety of biotech food.” Their only interest is in “selling as much of it as possible” and that “assuring the safety is the FDAs job.”

But wait, the FDA clearly stated that “Ultimately, it is the food producer who is responsible for assuring safety“ (FDA, “Statement of Policy: Foods Derived from New Plant Varieties” (GMO Policy), Federal Register, Vol. 57, No. 104 (1992), p. 229)

So the answer? No, no it will not be tested. The FDA will likely approve it under “Generally Regarded As Safe” and it will be labeled on food products as “Natural.”

Do Something About It

You may feel like you are “too small” of a person to make a difference but let’s not forget the mag

ical power of money. Since money is the driving force for most things, you cannot forget the power you have as a consumer. You have the power to vote with your dollar. You have the power to choose products not containing FrankenVanilla. You have the power to hit the tipping point and make big ice cream companies deny the use of this unnatural vanilla. You have a voice and it can be heard!

Friends of the Earth has a petition going on right now which targets big companies like Baskin Robbins, Haagen Dazs and Dryer’s to reject synbio vanilla. If you feel like you want to make a difference, now is your chance — head over to their site and sign the petition.

Better yet, sign the petition and share it with your friends.

Because seriously guys, no one wants to eat a synthetic genetic engineered yeast excreting vanilla.

 

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