【R6】 OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS,OUTCRIES FROM FOOD ACTIVISTS HAVE CHANGED MANY AMERICANS' EATING HABITS-. CRITICISM OF WIDESPREAD PESTICIDE USE LED MANY CONSUMERS TO ORGANIC FOODS,AND EARLY WARNINGS PROMPTED SHOPPERS TO SHUN IRRADIATED AND GENETICALLY ALTERED FOO D. 【R6】______MAJOR PLAYERS HAVE MUSCLED LAWS THROUGH STATE LEGISLATURES. THE STATUTES MAKE IT ILLEGAL TO SUGGEST THAT A PARTICULAR FOOD IS UNSAFE WITHOUT A 'SOUND SCIENTIFIC BASIS' FOR THE CLAI M. THESE SO-CALLED BANANA BILLS ARE UNDER DISCUSSION IN SEVERAL U. S. STATES. BANANA BILL BACKERS BELIEVE THE LAWS WILL PROTECT AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS FROM LOSSES LIKE THOSE FOLLOWING THE ALAR SCARE IN 1989,WHEN THE TV MAGAZINE SHOW 60 MINUTES PUBLICIZED A NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL REPORT CHARGING THAT THE CHEMICAL,WHICH ENHANCES THE APPEARANCE OF APPLES,CAUSES CANCER. 【R7】______ BANANA BILL FOES SAY THE LAWS SIMPLY SERVE TO REPRESS THOSE WHO SPEAK OUT AGAINST RISKY FOOD—PRODUCE WITH 'ACCEPTABLE' LEVELS OF PESTICIDES,GENETICALLY ALTERED TOMATOES,MILK FROM COWS INJECTED WITH THE GROWTH HORMONE RBST,WHICH BOOSTS MILK PRODUCTIO N. 【R8】______THEY CALL THEM AN INSULT TO FREE SPEECH AND AN IMPEDIMENT TO COVERING CRITICAL FOOD SAFETY ISSUES,NOTES NICOLS FOX IN AMERICAN JOURNALISM REVIEW(MARCH 1995). MOST CRITICS QUESTION THE LAWS'RE-QUIREMENT THAT ONLY CHARGES BASED ON 'REASONABLE AND RELIABLE' EVIDENCE BE ALLOWE D. 【R9】______AFTER ALL,IT'S UNLIKELY THAT AGRIBUSINESSES WILL ACCEPT EVEN THE BEST EVIDENCE IF IT THREATENS THEIR BOTTOM LIN E. FOX NOTES THAT EVEN THOUGH THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY AFFIRMED THAT ALAR POSED UNACCEPTABLE HEALTH RISKS, WASHINGTON STATE FARM BUREAU SPOKESPERSON PETER STERNBERG INSISTS THAT EPA'S SCIENCE IS 'SUBJECT TO SECOND OPINIO N. '—OPINIONS THAT CHALLENGED ACCEPTED WISDO M. INSTEAD OF ATTACKING WHAT THEY SNEER AS 'JUNK SCIENCE,' FOOD PRODUCERS SHOULD BE LISTENING TO THE PUBLIC'S FOOD WORRIES,SAYS SIERRA'S RAUBER.WHO CITES A RECENT YOUNG &RUBICAM POLL THAT FOUND THAT 4 OUT OF 5 AMERICANS ARE 'VERY CONCERNED ABOUT FOOD SAFETY. '【R10】______A CASE IN POINT IS RBST MAKER MONSANTO, WHO FOUGHT AND EVENTUALLY LOST A BATTLE TO KEEP DAIRY PRODUCERS FROM ADVERTISING THAT THEIR MILK CAME FROM RBST-FREE COWS.