Non-GMO Movement Enters American School Lunches
Text/Huang Jialin (member of the Campus Lunch Goes Non-GMO action team)
During the nine-in-one local elections for public office in Taiwan, China, the safety of genetically modified food on school campuses became a topic of discussion, and 13 elected county and city heads nationwide have pledged to promote non-GMO school lunches after taking office. In fact, it is not only the people of Taiwan, China who are concerned; recently, five school districts in Minnesota in the United States have incorporated this issue into school education activities and campus meals, designating a "GMO Awareness Day" in the hope that teachers, students, parents and children, and community residents can jointly participate in discussions and practices concerning campus safety and the right to know about food.
GMO Awareness Day Discusses the right to choose food
The schools in the five locations of Hopkins, Minneapolis, Osseo, Shakopee and Waconia serve a total of 56,700 meals to teachers and students on campus every day. In April 2014, the heads of the five schools met and resolved that they hoped to jointly hold activities in the community on the GMO issue. They believed this was an educational opportunity, and that as students grow older, they must understand and learn to make their own food choices. Therefore, they designated November 5 as "GMO Awareness Day," on which non-GMO food choices were offered at lunch, and the GMO issue was communicated to students and parents.
Bertrand Weber, head of the culinary and nutrition services department of the public schools in the Minneapolis area, said that "GMO Awareness Day" sparked dialogue and discussion on the GMO issue and also received many positive responses from inside and outside the school district.
"The purpose of holding GMO Awareness Day is to make more people aware that, whether or not they support GMOs, consumers should have the right to choose their food." Laura Metzger, head of the food and nutrition services department of the public schools in the Waconia area, said she hoped to start a dialogue with teachers and students about campus food and discuss how to make decisions about food choices.
Genetically modified food is one of the most controversial topics in the world, touching on many issues including agricultural patterns, food autonomy, environmental pollution, social justice, biotechnology and seed patents, multinational corporate monopolies, and the risks of human consumption, and to date no conclusion has been reached.
Taking Minnesota as an example, its agriculture is highly dependent on the huge economic benefits brought by GM crops, research and biotechnology companies; and the headquarters of the global GM giant Cargill is located in the Minnetonka area on the outskirts of Minneapolis in this state, and the jobs and sources of income of many students' parents and community members may come from agriculture and industries related to GM crops.
From the standpoint of education and food safety, these five school districts have formally launched the "GMO Awareness Day" action, elevating the issue of GM food to the level of school district activities, campus food procurement, and the planning and implementation of teaching curricula. The impact on school teachers, students and the community remains to be seen.
References
1. The United States begins promoting non-GMO school lunches
http://gmo.agron.ntu.edu.tw/GMOmain23.htm#14-12-07.1
2. Minnesota School Districts Aim to Reduce GMOs in School Food
https://www.organicconsumers.org/news/minnesota-school-districts-aim-reduce-gmos-school-food
3. Minnesota School Districts Working to Remove GMO Ingredients in Effort to "Support Kids' Long-Term Health"
4. Are some Minnesota schools out to lunch over GMOs?