Genetically
engineered food
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Modified?
manipulated? what, why -- and why not
"The
biotech industry rarely uses the phrase 'genetically engineered
foods,' sticking with the more bland (and less controversial)
phrase 'biotech foods.' In Europe, genetically engineered foods
are more commonly referred to as genetically modified foods, genetically
altered foods or GMOs (short for genetically modified organisms).
But scientists generally agree that 'genetically engineered' more
accurately represents the process than 'genetically modified.'"
Thanks to, and see continuation at:
http://www.thecampaign.org/#environment
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Americans’ knowledge
of genetically engineered foods remains low and their opinions about
its safety are just as divided as they were two years ago, according to
a new survey released last month by the Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology.
Americans are
clearly not aware of the extent genetically engineered foods have invaded
the U.S. food supply. Only 24 percent of Americans believe they
have eaten genetically engineered foods, while 58 percent say they have
not. In fact, nearly all Americans have eaten genetically engineered
foods, since 70 to 75 percent of all processed foods contain soy or
corn that has been genetically engineered.
Further, Americans
appear to be unaware that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
is not safety testing genetically engineered foods. According to the
Pew Initiative survey, 89 percent of Americans agree with this statement:
“Companies should be required to submit safety data to the Food and
Drug Administration for review, and no genetically modified food product
should be allowed on the market until the FDA determines it is safe.”
In reality, under
the current regulations, biotech companies are not even required to
notify the FDA they are bringing a new product to market. The very
companies with the financial interest in the products are the ones determining
the safety. Not only is the FDA not safety-testing these products, the
agency has determined it doesn’t even need to be notified that a new
genetically engineered food is going to be consumed by millions of people.
Allergic
reactions and other possible health risks "By now,"
says the (US-American) Campaign to Label Genetically Engineered
Foods, "millions of acres of genetically engineered crops have
been planted, and nearly two-thirds of the products on our supermarket
shelves contain GE ingredients. But GE foods remain poorly studied;
scientists simply can't say with any authority that they are absolutely
safe for human consumption. In fact, many questions persist..."
http://www.thecampaign.org/issues.php |
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Are Biotechnology and GE foods the answer to world hunger? The agribusiness
and biotech companies would make us think so. Another view is in the
excellent report from 1999, "Biotechnology = Hunger". It says:
..."The biotechnology industry claims it holds the answer to world
hunger: high technology to increase production. But according to the
United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), this badly misstates
the problem. There is no shortage of food in the world. Per capita food
production has never been higher. The real problem is this: In a globalized
economy, the poorest countries of the world are exporting their food
to the already well-fed countries..."
Read
full report here.
Moms
Battle Genetic Engineering
A group of New Zealand mothers led by a former pop star have launched
a provocative billboard campaign to protest their government's decision
to allow agricultural genetic engineering.
Additional links on genetic engineering:
to
ecology menu
to food sovereignty menu
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