How safe are GMO's?

How safe are GMO's? (Full Version)

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tolovetolaugh -> How safe are GMO's? (9/14/2011 10:32:18 AM)
http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/are-biotech-foods-safe-to-eat I never realised how prevalent GMO foods were- " Experts say 60% to 70% of processed foods on U.S. grocery shelves have genetically modified ingredients." "Regulation for genetically modified foods falls under three jurisdictions: The FDA, EPA, and USDA. But industry experts say the green light on market approval is left mostly to the companies creating the technology. Monsanto Co. dominates the industry, accounting for a 90% share of genetically modified crops worldwide. Dow Chemical Company and Syngenta AG, among others, control the rest." Apparently, the US is fighting with the Europe, over labeling. In the US GMO's are not on labels, whereas in Europe they specify when GMO's are in a product. The US is butting it's head in and trying to make them stop with the labeling. Why should the US care how another country labels its food? Why is the US not labeling when GMO's are in food? "One reason food companies may shy away from labeling genetically modified food is the possibility of consumer rejection. Public opposition has had some effect, as seen in Europe, where the EU has banned genetically modified foods despite the U.S.' wishes. American companies have vowed not to sell products made with genetically modified ingredients there, yet some of the same companies continue to sell them in the U.S., Archer says." The GMO backers have even tried to get their products stamped as organic, on the basis of concept of substantial equivalence. Which means products should be treated the same if it has the same basic characteristics. There are also concerns GMO's could be one of the reasons cancer is becoming more and more widespread. How do you feel about GMO foods, and our current regulatory system on them? Ps. I started looking at GMOs after finishing a book called Season of the Harvest, and want to look into it more before I form an opinion.

MileHighM -> RE: How safe are GMO's? (9/14/2011 11:06:46 AM)
Don't know how I feel about them, but food should require to be labled. I think the consumer should have the right to choose what they buy. Now, they don't know because they aren't being told. I think much fewer foods produced would be GMO if labled. I think most would prefere the non-GMO and even pay more if necessary.

SternSkipper -> RE: How safe are GMO's? (9/14/2011 11:17:30 AM)
quote: How safe are GMO's? The chances are that it will be quite some time before there's a real clear picture as to whether they are "unsafe" or "safe" ... though I suspect it will be both... some will be safe and I think there is a possibility that certain strategies for making gmos resistant to insects and pathogens will result at least in some isolated cases as hazardous to organisms ingesting them. We already know that many gmos are less nutritious than their naturally evolved counterparts (though some are vice versa). It's a whole big can of worms check back in 25 years. And in the meantime... EAT ALL YOUR VEGETABLES![:D]

Edwynn -> RE: How safe are GMO's? (9/14/2011 11:24:53 AM)
If you want to look into it more, do a search on "Monsanto" and "Michael Taylor," wherein you'll learn how the latter went from lead attorney of the former to head of the FDA, whereupon he quashed all studies of effects or consequences of GMOs and got approval shoveled right through. Not much different than what happened earlier regarding aspartame: http://www.rense.com/general33/legal.htm Yeah, your vote counts, etc., blah blah ...

SternSkipper -> RE: How safe are GMO's? (9/14/2011 11:26:15 AM)
I will say this though... I am really PISSED some of the meat options my friend Tom from the genetics lab at UNH was predicting back in 1980s never came to pass. For one thing, I am really pissed that they gave up on the idea/promise of the "Cocktail Chicken" was never delivered upon.... Imagine a future where you could go to your windowsill coop, lure say 2 dozen of the two inch high critters onto a cookie sheet mace the little fuckers with buffalo sauce, and then broil for about 20 minutes ... and VOILA! Party food.

joether -> RE: How safe are GMO's? (9/14/2011 11:31:31 AM)
An WHO has been leading the charge on removing regulations and preventing new ones from being put in place? The Republican Party! Is this a partisan issue? Of course it is! Your questioning whether GMO's are as healthy as the same 'looking' but organic product. In order to show whether its safe or not, requires plenty of testing. That requires biology and chemistry disciplines. An WHO is against science? The Republican Party! Likewise, many foods are made outside the United States and shipped to our store shelves. I've never stopped being amazed when holding a tomato that just days previous, it was in another part of the world far beyond the nation's borders. Making sure food is safe to consume requires good regulations and enforcement. And WHO is against regulations and good enforcement? The Republican Party! So yes, tolovetolaugh, the reason why GMO's are in 'circulation' in the states is due to regulations being eroded, removed, or kept from being insitutated by a 'corporation first, everyone else be damned' approached of the GOP. Its highly irresponsible, unethical, and morally unsound. But, money trumps wisdom as far as conservatives seem to be concern. Aren't they the ones that want to get rid of the USDA, FDA, and EPA?

FirmhandKY -> RE: How safe are GMO's? (9/14/2011 11:39:52 AM)
Laughs, You may wish to read this thread: Monsanto launching bio engineered sweet corn for some background. Firm

Edwynn -> RE: How safe are GMO's? (9/14/2011 11:41:31 AM)
The instigation and incentive for Monsanto's GMOs to begin with was to develop seeds that could survive the onslaught of their very biologically lethal 'Roundup' weed killer. Farmers had no viable seeds from harvest, so Monsanto responded with a double whammy to the farmers. Not only seeds that could survive their own poison (Roundup Ready seeds), but the evermore infamous 'terminator' seeds that are biologically engineered to impotence. (farmer: "not what we asked for!", Monsanto: "tough shit!")

FirmhandKY -> RE: How safe are GMO's? (9/14/2011 11:42:06 AM)
... and this might be interesting as well: Let's Talk About ... Eating "Long Pig" ... Although slightly "off" topic, you may find it interesting, nonetheless. [8D][;)] Firm

Iamsemisweet -> RE: How safe are GMO's? (9/14/2011 11:42:34 AM)
I posted a similar discussion about GMOs a couple of weeks ago. Check out the link Firm posted

FirmhandKY -> RE: How safe are GMO's? (9/14/2011 11:43:30 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Iamsemisweet I posted a similar discussion about GMOs a couple of weeks ago. It got pretty heated. If I could figure out how to post the link I would, but it had to do with Monsanto's new GMO Sweet Corn. Done, sweet. [:)] Firm

Iamsemisweet -> RE: How safe are GMO's? (9/14/2011 11:44:31 AM)
Thanks Firm. I edited my post after I saw that. Everything old is new again, right? The funny thing is that someone tried to insult me today by saying "michael Taylor is your daddy". I am still laughing my head off.

tolovetolaugh -> RE: How safe are GMO's? (9/14/2011 11:46:08 AM)
Ick... I was eating when I read that. ><

Edwynn -> RE: How safe are GMO's? (9/14/2011 11:54:08 AM)
Nothing new at all about the gangland culture existing at the FDA and the Department of Agriculture. I've heard quite a load from r/l farmers to be otherwise ignorant of the situation there. Not a single farmer is getting any subsidies unless using a long list of agro-chem treatments. That's just how it is.

Edwynn -> RE: How safe are GMO's? (9/14/2011 12:00:39 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Iamsemisweet Thanks Firm. I edited my post after I saw that. Everything old is new again, right? The funny thing is that someone tried to insult me today by saying "michael Taylor is your daddy". I am still laughing my head off. But he IS, sweet, he is ALL our daddys. OK, well, at least he keeps trying to be. Monsanto got that boy workin'!, I tell ya. Obama put him as "Food Safety Czar, " and he came nearly close to shoveling a law through congress that would have outlawed not only organic farming, but backyard garden growers as well. That boy just doesn't stop.

Edwynn -> RE: How safe are GMO's? (9/14/2011 12:01:43 PM)
~

wittynamehere -> RE: How safe are GMO's? (9/14/2011 12:06:19 PM)
Basically, the US doesn't want to have to admit when a product is genetically modified, because they know people would be less likely to buy it. They'll give every other excuse why they don't want the foods labelled, but that's the reason right there. We don't know if genetically modified foods are safe. The ones saying they are safe are the ones selling them, or profiting off their sale. We need lots of long term independent peer-reviewed research WITHOUT A FINANCIAL OR POLITICAL MOTIVE BEHIND IT before we will know for sure.

Edwynn -> RE: How safe are GMO's? (9/14/2011 12:37:28 PM)
To get back to SternSkipper's post, I think that it might be possible to come up with bio-engineering as would actually be of benefit to humans and to the planet as a whole. The 'Roundup Ready' terminator seeds venture is not exactly putting the best foot forward there, but then again no different than oil smacking other energy sources at all opportunity.

Iamsemisweet -> RE: How safe are GMO's? (9/14/2011 12:44:25 PM)
Read the sweet corn thread. There is link after link of information about GMO foods in it. My opinion; hell yes I want it labeled. I think the reason that Monsanto is pushing the technology so much is pretty obvious. It isn't like they are genetically engineering crops to make them more naturally resistant to disease or decrease water consumption. They are doing it so they can sell more of a poison that they make AND patent the seeds, and they are getting to do it without so much as the benefit of an EIS, so far. The 9th recently decided that an EIS was needed in the case of GMO sugar beets. This blindly plunging forward is detrimental to consumers and farmers alike. No doubt if this thread goes on for very long, you will have people trying to tell you that Genetic modification has been going on for 1000s of years and all kinds of horse shit like that. Enjoy, I have already expressed my opinion on this subject at great length.

MileHighM -> RE: How safe are GMO's? (9/14/2011 12:51:38 PM)
We just need broader labling laws, not just GMO, but everything. I think if you pass a more general law you will get it past the GMO crowd before they know the full impact....Then BAM! we got our labels. Question: Why hasn't the people's republic of Cali passed a law requiring the labling? They make virtually every business in the state paste a stick up that says the place contains cancer causing agents?

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