SLO County Health Commission Votes Unanimously to Expand GMO Task Force

Contact:  Teresa Campbell

October 18, 2005

805-927-0714

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY HEALTH COMMISSION VOTES UNANIMOUSLY TO EXPAND GE TASK FORCE

Commission responds to community concerns that existing Task Force is unbalanced and composed primarily of supporters of genetic engineering.

(San Luis Obispo, Cal.)  Monday night the San Luis Obispo County Health Commission unanimously voted to create a more balanced GE Task Force.  The Task Force was formed, at the request of the Board of Supervisors to the SLO Co. Health Commission, to investigate the health implications of genetically engineered crops and foods.  

This request came in response to public awareness about GE foods raised in last year’s election.  Measure Q, an initiative aimed at keeping GE crops from being grown in SLO Co., was defeated but many SLO Co. citizens remained concerned about the health, environmental and economic impacts of GE crops being locally grown.  The Board of Supervisors requested both the Health and Agricultural Departments form task forces to investigate and gather information.

Public outcry has plagued the Health Commission task force since it began.  The selection process, conflicts of interests, and material to be reviewed have repeatedly come under fire at the task force meetings and to the Health Commission.

The Health Commission used an application process for the selection of task force members.  The selection criteria was never revealed but the Health Commission, on a motion from Dr. Don Pinkel, unanimously voted Monday night to add three more members to the task force  balancing  the professional training of its members.  The Health Commission now seeks a biomedical researcher, a biomedical ethicist, and a public health professional to join the task force.

Of the original five public task force members, three were actively involved in the No on Measure Q campaign.  Although applications were submitted, no one from the Yes on Q campaign was selected for the task force, including a registered dietitian who also teaches at a local community college.  

For the past five months, SLO GE Free has been requesting that the Health Commission produce the selection criteria that yielded a GE Task Force primarily consisting of staunch supporters of GMO's.  One person signed the No on Q ballot argument, another attended the Tribune editorial board meeting to oppose Measure Q, and the third person wrote numerous editorials against Measure Q and has over 20 years professional experience in the GE crop industry.

Mark Phillips, Atascadero resident and member of SLO GE Free, said  “ We will watch carefully as the selection process (for the 3 new GE  task force members) proceeds but are hopeful that a new era of  cooperation can ensue between a public that has serious concerns  regarding the safety of GE food and crops and a task force that has been at times openly hostile to those citizens.”