RE: [pf] 50 Harmful Effects of Genetically Modified Foods

by David A

19 December 2000 14:19 UTC

I popped back on to the list's Web site
to see what's been going on, and I
can't resist responding to this.

Just a quick glance at the first few
items in this list shows that many are urban legends. 

#1 is one of the more frequently seen. There's been no evidence that the 
L-tryptophan's contamination was GM-related. Both the FDA and the CDC 
have reported they believe GM was not at fault. (McHughen, Pandora's 
Picnic Basket: the risks and hazards of genetically modified foods, 
Oxford University Press (2000), pp 116-118).

#2. No bean has ever been produced with the Brazil nut gene. Pioneer 
Hi-Bred, which revived earlier research in this gene while looking at 
the potential for animal feed, and did their own tests (published) that 
showed the gene caused allergenicity. They killed the project. (McHughen 
pp 119-121).

Since these two top the list, I'm quite dubious about the research that 
went into preparing it or the care the author took to look below the 
surface of these accusations.

Furthermore, I think it's irresponsible to forward such a list before at 
least checking it out. This issue has become far too polemical for it to 
be solved by press release wars, and this kind of thing only makes it 
worse.

David

Tom Wheeler wrote:
> 50 Harmful Effects of Genetically Modified Foods
> 
> http://www.cqs.com/50harm.htm
> 
> We are confronted with what is undoubtedly the single most potent 
> technology
> the world has ever known - more powerful even than atomic energy. Yet it 
> is
> being released throughout our environment and deployed with superficial 
> or
> no risk assessments - as if no one needs to worry an iota about its
> unparalleled powers to harm life as we know it - and for all future
> generations.
> 
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