[Sca-cooks] FW: genetically engineereed foods OT- OT- WAY OT

[Christine Seelye-King]

Brandu wrote <much snippage>
Usually they aren't going to add in genes encoded for odd things that make
a food inedible or dangerous.
There is no return on investment for such things...

Of course, but really would such a thing be commercially viable?
Considering the enormous expense of researching, creating, patenting and
then actually producing a commercially significant quantity of the product,
the possibility of monster hybrids is vanishingly small.

But I maintain that the much of the hype over GM foods is a product of an
unscientifically sophisticated and inherently sensationalist media.
Brandu

There is quite a lot of scientific research on the matter, and there are
grave concerns that are being overlooked by the 'powers that be'.  From just
one site : Genetically Modified Food News http://www.connectotel.com/gmfood/
, and a page from that site "What's wrong with Genetically Modified Food?",
here are a few of the issues.  The page in question has articles and studies
supporting each of these.  I urge you to check them out before you fall back
on the idea that such things just wouldn't be viable or commercially
attractive.
I also recommend a book by Michael Poullan called "The Botany of Desire".
The chapter on potatoes is enough to make you stop eating french fries.
Christianna

*Genetically Modified plants contaminate conventionally grown and organic
plants and honey.
*Crops which have been Genetically Modified to resist herbicides encourage
the use of larger quantities of herbicide, with the effect that both weeds
and beneficial plants are killed indiscriminately. These herbicides are
harmful to both the environment and to humans.
*Crops which have been Genetically Modified to contain their own
insecticide, such as Bt, cause insects to become resistant to the
insecticide.
*Genetically Modified plants may crossbreed with wild species to produce
"superweeds", which cannot be eliminated using standard herbicides.
*The use of Genetically Modified seed encourages dependence by the farmers
on a single seed supplier and may involve the purchase of both the seed and
herbicide from one supplier. Seed companies impose 'licensing agreements'
for the seed which forbid the farmer from replanting seed from one year to
the next.
*Toxic compounds such as glyphosate (RoundUp) and Bromoxynil are used on
Genetically Modified crops. The US Environmental Protection Agency has
approved the use of Bromoxynil despite acknowledging "...serious concerns
about developmental risks to infants and children."
*The nature of genetic modification and long term effects are not well
understood as these products have not been properly tested before being
released into the environment. For example, in the USA, the United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved the use of all currently approved
Genetically Modified crops based on data supplied by the manufacturers.
*Genetic material inserted into plants can transfer to animals and humans in
the intestinal wall
*Crops which have been Genetically Modified to resist insects kill not just
the "target insect" (such as the borer or weevil) but beneficial insects
(such as the Monarch butterfly). They also threaten the habitats of other
animals, such as birds.
*Crops which have been Genetically Modified to produce pharmaceuticals can
contaminate the food supply.



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