IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: March 8, 2004

Contact: Jim Moulton, 824-6670 and jmoulton@sover.net

Jeffrey Smith, author of the alarming new exposé Seeds of Deception, will be appearing in Vermont for a five-city tour starting March 21^st. The books subtitle, Exposing Industry and Government Lies About the Safety of the Genetically Engineered Foods You’re Eating, characterizes a meticulously researched account of how the biotechnology industry’s manipulation and political collusion – not sound science – allow dangerous genetically engineered foods into our daily diets. Smith reveals how company research was rigged, evidence of health dangers covered up and intense political pressure applied, all conspiring to remove consumer choice and short-circuit the democratic process.

Smith’s visit to Vermont is particularly timely in light of Vermonters efforts to regulate genetically engineered (GE) foods and crops on the state level. Nearly 80 Vermont towns have passed resolutions beseeching Vermont legislators to enact strict regulations on releases of genetically modified organisms, or GMOs. There is intense debate in Montpelier on the issues of a temporary halt in planting GMOs in Vermont to allow inadequate policies to catch up with a new and deregulated technology, of protecting farmers from damages caused by GMO contamination and of labeling GE seeds. According to a University of Vermont poll, an astonishing 96% of Vermonters believe products containing genetically engineered ingredients should be labeled.

Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, says of Smith’s revelations, "Outrageous! That’s what you’ll say over and over again when you read how the biotechnology companies have manipulated the government, our food, and the media, and to put an entire generation at risk. Notions of independence and integrity in the nation’s food regulatory agencies are shattered in this well-documented, captivating book." Seeds of Deception is widely-regarded as the Silent Spring of this era.

Mr. Smith will be speaking at the Bennington Free Library (at the corner of Main and Silver Sts) on March 21^st, the Rutland Free Library (on the corner of Center and Court Sts) on March 22^nd, the Ilsley Public Library (75 Main St) in Middlebury on March 23^rd, in Montpelier at the Vermont Statehouse on March 24^th and in the White River Jct area at the Norwich Public Library (368 Main St) on March 25^th. All discussions will start at 7:00pm. Admission is free.

The event is sponsored by Southern Vermont’s Genetic Engineering Action Group. For more information, contact Jim Moulton at jmoulton@sover.net or 802-824-6670 and by visiting www.seedsofdeception.com and www.gefreevt.org.