GM-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.

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 distribute information on GMOs and 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, required 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 starting no later than the 2006-07 school year.

IRT Support for Your Local GM-Free Schools Effort

The Institute for Responsible Technology (IRT) supports efforts to create GM-free schools by providing written and audio-visual materials, web support, and guidance to local campaigns.

With support from the Sierra Club and others, the Institute for Responsible Technology makes available one or more copies of our Hidden Dangers in Kids' Meals video (DVD or VHS) and You're Eating WHAT? CD to a limited number of individuals or groups who are committed to starting a local GM-Free School campaign or have an already existing campaign.

The Institute works with local campaign organizers in the planning and implementation stages. We are currently refining campaign materials, media kit, and how-to-kit. These will evolve as we get input from local campaigns. We can also provide local campaigns with their own homepage, list serve, calendar, database, and useful links.

In addition, campaigners can purchase educational materials-- DVDs, CDs, and books, including Seeds of Deception, at a special rate so they can make money showing the video and selling products afterwards, as a way to generate funds to support their local campaign.

If you are interested in Institute support for a local GM-Free Schools campaign, please send your contact info and a brief description of your goals, plans, campaign status, and anticipated resource needs to info@responsibletechnology.org

Take Action

1. Educate yourself, and stay informed.

A good place to start is with this website, including our free educational products, 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 own circle.

Parents, educate your children, friends and other parents. Students, educate your friends and their parents. School personnel; educate your colleagues, including teachers, school administrators, school board members, parents, students, school nutritionists, etc.

You can share the Hidden Dangers in Kids’ Meals video with them. Do this one-on-one or invite a group to watch the video and discuss what you can do next.

3. Make your own home GM-free.

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

4. Get involved in efforts to make your school district or college GM-free.

• If you are a school decision maker ready to consider converting, partially or completely, to GM-free and need recommendations on how to do this, send your contact information and request to info@responsibletechnology.org

Other Resources

A sample letter you can send to PTA members or school officials.

Links to additional information on healthy school meal programs.