katsy

This is a sincere question(I'm not being snarky): Then why are foreign countries banning GMOs? The European Union doesn't want it. The US says it is safe.

Some concerns I have of GMOs:The allergens it introduces.The changes to the nutritional value of plants, in an adverse way.

I understand the benefits. But have the benefits been weighed against the probable negative outcomes? I haven't been able to find any studies on such. Everything that I am able to find conveys that gmo foods are safe, as safe as any food can be. However, there is always that but-- but, we do not know about long term effects.

I have read studies where people feel better, and symptoms of skin disorders in particular, start clear when the person removes gmo's from their diet. I'm not so blind to think that other factors may also be involved.

All of that aside, I just want the foods labeled, and a better regulation system.

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Split the Lark-- and you'll find the Music - Emily Dickinson

14232949

we live in a society that's scared to live. There are so many of these soccer mom type articles saying 'oh you can't eat that' and 'oh that'll give you tumour of the brain' the fact of the matter is people have and will continue eating these foods no matter what chemical compounds are found to be in them, if you were to think about it, there's elements in the air that could cause mutations in your genes; doesn't mean we should all stop breathing.
I don't know why we in the first world are so concerned with trying to cause mass hysteria all the time.

RoxyRollah

BUY BOAR'S HEAD! Seriously... I can tell you everything you ever wanted to know and more about them...(because I work for them...) but that is besides the point, we have it all hot dogs, sausage, meats cheeses blah blah blah....blah..seriously I could put you to sleep with the information rolling around in my skull...

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katsy

I don't think that raising a concern about genetically modified food is on par with causing mass hysteria. And you are incorrect about people continuing to eat them, if they knew. Why do you think they do not label gmo's here in the US? If they did, people would be more apt to buy something not bio-engineered.

But if you have a phd in biology or are some authority on food safety in any way(that's what I have asked Duga specifically), I would be happy to listen to your expert opinion. Hell, if you could even point me in the direction of a study of the long term effects of gmo's I would be all for it. Especially, being I am a mom of a kid with severe allergies that seem to be aggravated by certain foods. And since the allergen effect of gmos are not yet identified, not that I am aware of, I'm going to be concerned.

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Split the Lark-- and you'll find the Music - Emily Dickinson

katsy

I buy it every week. Good stuff.

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Split the Lark-- and you'll find the Music - Emily Dickinson

duga

I understand your concerns, but the truth is any fear of GMOs is largely based on ignorance in regard to genetics. What do you think is being modified? It's probably not what you think. We introduce pesticide resistance, insect/pathogen resistance, and maybe select genes that influence ripening time or fruit longevity. Anything influencing nutritional value has been artificially selected for over generations of breeding and has not been modified directly. The genes we do introduce artificially are latent until activated by what they were programmed for (ie pesticide application or insect attack). The countries banning them are either 1) more afraid of big agro monopolization or 2) are developing countries and are ignorant of the scientific facts.

True story... In an East Asian country (I can't recall which specifically) a man was trying to get a divorce because he was gay. Both divorce and being gay are big no nos in this country but they convinced the judge to be ok with both counts because the man "walked through a crop of GMOs and turned gay". That's the ignorance we are dealing with.

Now, I think all the traits I mentioned above are good things. However, the aspects I disagree with are the development of one-use crops (meaning the plants that grow are infertile) forcing the purchase of expensive seed directly from the company, the reduction of genetic diversity which could result in species-wide famine, and the fact that you could be prosecuted for growing unlicensed big agro plants even if they result from genetic drift. This kind of monopolization is horrible.

But GMOs themselves are perfectly fine. You can't be affected by a few artificial genetic sequences.

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Confusion will be my epitaph...

14232949

We live in an educated enough period of time where people are capable of making their own decisions regarding lifestyle and dietary choices, we're aware of what is healthy or unhealthy for us. The majority, don't seem to care. Look at the growing levels of obesity especially in the young.

You're not going to label your products with breakdowns of compounds on them, the last thing you want to do is alienate the consumer with jargon and scientific terms. When they started labelling saturated fats of foods it threw enough people into a state of confusion (Maybe I'll take back the comment about living in an educated day and age) so from a marketing perspective it's simpler to keep things basic. You want a pack of low budget sausages, slap the word 'sausages' and a picture of a smiling pig, it'll sell more than a complex breakdown of gmos.

Also, they're not listed because the food companies are under no obligation to do so. For the minority, like yourself who do read into these things, you're going to be put off the product. From a business perspective, the section of the market is being alienated. Best to keep it to a need-to-know basis.

As I said I could pluck some form of research off the internet that warns of the hazards of just about every food group out there.
Here's another 8 things you can add to your avoidance list for example.

Top 10 most unhealthy, cancer-causing foods - never eat these again!

I just think as a society we read far too much into these things. Food goes through quality control, and if was actually dangerous, it would not be allowed to make it to retailers. These articles are designed to cause panic (just look at the abomination of a comment section in that article I linked) and they target the white middle class to make them buy organic products at an increased price.

katsy

^^ Thanks for the informed response. I know that they are modified for the pest, disease, and drought resistance. It has been suggested to me, by health care professionals, that I change my child's diet to avoid some serious allergens(gluten has a lot to do with it as well) she has. In doing my own investigating, what you mainly find is negative on gmo's-- fear of the unknown, I suppose.

And all that led to the finding of the original article on wieners.

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Split the Lark-- and you'll find the Music - Emily Dickinson

RoxyRollah

THANK YOU, we love to hear that... oh wait I am not working right now...damn mind control..but in all seriousness THANK YOU!!!

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FRED HALE SR.

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