Campaign for genetically modified free schools

Children face the greatest risk from the potential dangers of GM foods:

Young, fast-developing bodies are influenced most.
Children are more susceptible to allergies.
Children are more susceptible to problems with milk.
Children are more susceptible to nutritional problems.
Children are in danger from antibiotic resistant diseases.

(For more information, watch a preview of Hidden Dangers in Kids' Meals: Genetically Engineered Foods, read a review of Hidden Dangers in Kid's Meals; or read Genetically Engineered Foods Pose Higher Risk for Children or the Spilling the Beans article Another Reason for Schools to Ban Genetically Engineered Foods.)

Schools throughout the UK and parts of Europe banned GM food years ago. In the 1990s, many Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) in the U.S. rallied against rbGH and more than a hundred school districts banned milk from rbGH-treated cows. Wisconsin dairy farmer John Kinsman describes the method he used to inspire several schools: "I simply talked to parents of small children. Once mothers heard about this, they didn't rest until their school made the commitment."

The emergence of the “healthy school lunch” movement in the U.S. today provides a ready platform to promote GM-free school meals. Parents and schools are already seeking to change kids’ diets in response to the obesity and diabetes epidemics, the proliferation of ADD/ADHD, and the increased understanding of the impact of food and behavior. Several school systems have made sweeping changes to their meal programs, and new parents are consistently the largest group of new buyers of organic food each year.

In addition, the US government has taken steps to upgrade school nutritional standards - the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, for example, states that all school districts with a federally funded school meals program develop and implement wellness policies that address, among other things, nutrition and nutrition education by the start of the 2006-07 school year.

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Parent Actions

1. Educate yourself, and stay informed.

A good place to start is with this website, as well as the Institute’s publications, and in particular the Hidden Dangers in Kids’ Meals video, which presents a compelling case for the dangers of GM foods to children of all ages. Plus sign up for our newsletter, Spilling the Beans, to stay up-to-date on the issues.

2. Educate your child(ren).

For older children, consider showing them the Hidden Dangers in Kids’ Meals video. We are compiling other material that can be used in the home or school, that describes the issues for various age groups.

3. Make your home GM-free.

Use the Buying Non-GM Shopping List to identify what food items you’re currently buying contain GM ingredients and what items you can purchase to replace them.

4. Speak with other parents.

We recommend sharing the Hidden Dangers in Kids’ Meals video with other parents you know. You can do this one-on-one or invite a group of parents to watch the video and discuss possible follow-up action.

5. Get involved in a local GM-Free Schools campaign.

See Supporting Local GM-Free Schools Campaign Efforts, above.

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There are ways to have the power to choose what you and your children eat. This is just a start. And you can check with your Board of Education before the next school year to find out what they serve children in school on lunch programs. You have the right to know, but you have to get involved.