The Politics of Food

In the past I have written about food safety, fast food and even the highly processed 'food' that packs the freezer cases of our supermarkets.  One subject that I have not really addressed is Genetically Modified food aka GMO's.   

It seems the majority of Americans and Canadians  support labeling of GMO products yet neither Canada or the USA require genetically modifies products to be labeled.  

Did you know that all European countries, Japan and even India and China require GMO labeling?  Some countries actual have banned GMO imports. 

GMO seeds are genetically modified plants created by scientists in order to circumvent the laws of nature by way of gene splicing, often they create a whole new species combining genes that have nothing to do with either other.  Not only are they creating untested franken-plants, but the only known medium able to introduce newly created gene strands into a plant's cell, is a virus or bacteria.  So, this newly created plant using genes from any number of plants and/or animals is also being bombarded with viruses and bacteria.

GMO food started showing up on the shelves of our supermarkets in 1996  - the long term consequences of this genetic  tampering is yet to be seen.  I think we have the right to know if we are consuming genetically modified products.  Without required labeling we have absolutely no way of knowing unless we are buying organic. 

Put a label on it and let us decide for ourselves.  

GMOs are not the same as hybrid plants.  There is a misconception that hybrid plants like Better Boy and Early Girl tomatoes are genetically engineered.    Hybrids are developed much like what happens in our backyard gardens through cross pollination.  Plants left to their own devices will cross pollinate with similar plants.  If zucchini and pumpkins are planted close together you very well may end up with 'pumpkinies'.   Those are hybrids much like the Better Boy or Early girl.  The seeds we buy at the big box stores are not genetically engineered, they are hybrids.  

Recently I read that scientists are working to create a tomato that will withstand extreme cold by genetically inserting the gene of arctic fish into a tomato.  Last time I checked arctic fish and tomatoes don't naturally cross breed. 

This November California voters have the chance to pass Prop 37 which will require GMO labeling of food sold in California.    If this passes California will be the ONLY state to require GMO labeling.  

The anti-Prop 37  campaign is well funded and the glossy color fliers are arriving in the mail warning us of the evils of Prop 37.  Of course they have done an excellent job of planting the seeds of doubt.  I did a little reading and while it seems odd that noodles from China are exempt while US noodles would require labeling, guess what?  China already requires GMO labeling!  

Take a close look at where the funding comes from and you will understand how much is at stake. 

Monsanto $7,100,500. - ConAgra $1.07 million, Coca-Cola $1.16 million, Nestle $1.17 million, Pepsi $1.72 million, Dow Agrosciences $2 million, Bayer Cropscience $2 million, BASF Plant Science $2 million, DuPont $4.9 million.

Stay tuned for the November 6th results.  

I have already cast my vote.  

As California goes, so does the rest of the nation.