Impossible Foods is claiming that their products reduce climate change compared to the beef from cattle raised in Confined Animal Feeding Operations. However, compared to black bean burger ingredients grown on regenerative organic farms and other safer, pasture-fed animal operations, this claim is inaccurate. Compared to regenerative organic practice, GMO mono-crop farming, from which the Impossible Foods fake meat are derived, these fake meat products increase environmental degradation. The GMO farming practices and agrochemicals decrease microbes in the soil (organic matter), increase chemical fertilizer inputs such as nitrogen, and pollute the water. These practices reduce carbon sequestration and increase nitrous oxide release, which is 300X more harmful than carbon.
The following is the letter in our campaign that will go directly to PTA leaders, the National Association of Elementary School Principals, and the School Nutrition Association. We also suggest separately emailing it to school staff and Food Directors.
Dear PTA Leaders, Principals, Food Directors, and School Board Directors,
Impossible Foods has recently been approved to sell their fake GMO meat products to schools. I am concerned that our school might soon be providing this branded, GMO Impossible fake meat for the following reasons:
1.There are many reports of people getting sick after eating this lab-produced product.
Children are especially vulnerable, as their livers and immune systems are still developing. Do we need to risk making our children sick?
2. As reported by Friends of the Earth, the Impossible Foods fake meat contains 46 proteins never before approved for human consumption. The FDA simply classified it as GRAS- Generally Recognized As Safe- which means the manufacturer could determine its safety without FDA-reviewed studies.
3. It is made of genetically modified soy, which has been shown to be substantially different from non-GMO soy, having lower nutrient content and higher pesticide residues
Test results of glyphosate and its residue, AMPA (aminomethylphosphonic acid), which is even more toxic in soy samples.