Synthetic biologists are one step closer to building life from scratch. They've just created a fully synthetic "SpudCell" that can feed, grow, and reproduce. Science like this rarely stays in the lab for long. It tends to end up in food, whether that was the intent at creation. And when it does, federal regulators aren't doing anything to stop it. The only hope we have is for state lawmakers to draw the line.
Several states have taken action to ban lab-grown (cell-cultured) meat, but most of the synbio industry's Frankenfoods are slipping past them: molds marketed as imitation meat (Quorn, MyBacon); fake egg whites, whey, and blood made from genetically modified microorganisms (The Impossible Burger, The Every Company, Perfect Day); and lab-grown chocolate (Mondelez, Celleste).
TAKE ACTION: Tell Your State Reps To Ban Genetically Engineered Frankenfoods Made With Synthetic Biology (a.k.a Biomass Fermentation, Precision Fermentation, Cell Cultures, and Synthetic Cells)!
These aren't first-generation GMOs. Today, instead of modifying microorganisms with natural genes extracted from other organisms (like Monsanto’s rBGH), they use synthetic DNA to "program" the cells.
Food made with GMO microbes may be toxic or trigger allergies. Back in the 1980s when Showa Denko decided to produce its tryptophan supplement with genetically engineered bacteria, 37 people died and 1500 were permanently disabled.
These GMOs are completely unregulated. Synbio GMOs enter our food through the FDA's "Generally Recognized as Safe" (GRAS) loophole.
There's no safety review. Companies simply declare their own products GRAS, and even that is voluntary. Food-safety lawyers argue this violates the 1958 Food Additives Law, but they haven't won that fight in court.
Now the technology is leaping forward again. This summer, University of Minnesota researchers unveiled "SpudCell", the first synthetic cell built entirely from non-living molecules that can feed, grow, and divide. It isn't alive, and it isn't anywhere near your grocery store. But it's an indication of what's next for snybio food.
TAKE ACTION: Tell Your State Reps To Ban Genetically Engineered Frankenfoods Made With Synthetic Biology (a.k.a Biomass Fermentation, Precision Fermentation, Cell Cultures, and Synthetic Cells)!
Personal Information
*SAMPLE LETTER TO YOUR STATE LEGISLATORS*
You will be able to edit this text on the next page after you enter your information.
Dear [State Legislator],
I'm writing regarding the disturbing "SpudCell" news. Scientists have begun manufacturing wholly synthetic cells and federal regulators are doing nothing to stop this technology from being used in food production. Please ban foods made with synthetic biology, including biomass fermentation, precision fermentation, and cell culture, as well as synthetic cells.
Several states have already taken action to ban lab-grown (cell-cultured) meat, but most of the synbio industry's Frankenfoods are slipping past them, including lab-grown chocolate created by Celleste for Mondelez.
They've also missed precision fermentation, an extreme form of genetic engineering where artificial DNA is inserted into microbes to produce synthetic proteins.
Products of precision fermentation include the Impossible Burger's fake blood, the Every Company's imitation egg-whites, and Bored Cow's "milk" made with Perfect Day’s synthetic whey protein.
Biomass fermentation is similar to precision fermentation in that it involves genetically engineered microorganisms, but instead of the GMO microbes producing the ingredients, they are the ingredients. These include fungal molds like MyForest's MyBacon and MyPulledPork.
Biomass and precision fermentation are dangerous. In the 1980s, Showa Denko, a manufacturer of the amino acid tryptophan, accidentally poisoned thousands of its customers with a synthetic version made from genetically engineered bacteria. Showa Denko killed 37 people and caused 1500 to be permanently disabled.
With no required federal regulatory process for foods made from genetically engineered microbes, the only responsible thing for states to do is ban them.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]