Campaign for Safe Food

The Oregon chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility initiated the Campaign for Safe Food October 1, 2003.

The mission of the project is to advance the establishment of an agricultural system and food supply in Oregon that does not use genetically engineered organisms. The project's activities are based on the Precautionary Principle, a common sense, scientific approach to decision-making that has been adopted by numerous international organizations and governments. It is through this principle that we advocate for restraint in governmental approval of genetically engineered products in the face of science that has not fully determined their safety or danger.

The introduction of genetically engineered foods in the United States is in direct contradiction to this principle. Being inadequately tested, unlabeled and associated with demonstrated harm and serious possible unintended consequences, these products present a significant risk to the health and well-being of humans, animals, and the environment.

The project focuses on three issues: 1) recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH or rBST) in dairy 2) U.S. meat production and 3) biopharmaceutical (biopharm) crops, which are plants genetically engineered to produce drugs. These issues were chosen based upon urgency and level of risk to human health and the environment.

Program goals are to: 1) discontinue the production of any dairy products from cows treated with rBGH 2) reduce the risks of antibiotic resistance, cloned and genetically engineered animals, and global warming associated with the industrial meat system and 3) ensure there is no risk of human or environmental contamination by biopharm crops.

To accomplish these goals, we are working with a wide rang of professional advisors, including physicians, scientists, farmers, business leaders, legislators, consumer advocates, animal health specialists, and others. We have a team of over 40 advisors.

The Campaign for Safe Food raises consumer awareness and inspires citizen activism about the negative health effects of rBGH. This is done through community presentations, supporting dairy processors to go rBGH-free, supporting institutions in rBGH-free purchasing efforts, and working with  national coalitions to protect consumers' right to know what is in their dairy by having appropriately labeled products.

We also address some of the biggest environmental, health, and animal welfare threats posed by the United States meat system such as antibiotic resistance, global warming, and diet related disease. We encourage individuals to advocate for a healthier, more sustainable meat system that has the least environmental impact possible, by reducing their meat consumption, choosing sustainable options at the supermarket, and voicing their concerns to policy makers.

Finally, we have worked since 2003 to institute regulations restricting the planting of biopharm crops to minimize the risks of contamination. In a nutshell, we do not want drugs in our food. Nor do we want these experimental drugs to harm wildlife. We initiated the original bill on biopharm crops in the 2005 Oregon legislature, advised the Governor's ad hoc task force in 2006-07, and have worked closely with the Oregon Department of Agriculture and Health Division on drafting rules that we hope to have finalized in 2009. 

For more information on this program, please contact:

Rick North, Project Director
503-968-1520; Email