The subject of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is not one I discuss often here on The Lunch Tray. I find the topic daunting and rather than wade into a complex area about which I know little, I’ve left it to other bloggers and experts to keep us informed and engage in intelligent debate.
But so much has been happening on the GMO front lately that I wanted to share the news with you here.
First, on Tuesday, a new GMO study was published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Organic Systems. The study followed 168 pigs, half of which ate a diet of genetically modified corn and soy and half of which ate non-GM corn and soy. After the pigs were slaughtered, in “blind” examinations by researchers (they did not know which pigs had eaten the GM diet), it was found that the GM-fed pigs had significantly higher rates of severe stomach inflammation and heavier uteruses.
This article from Food Safety News provides balanced coverage of the study, giving voice to both its critics and supporters.
Even if you continue to doubt the potential harm caused by GMOs, it’s hard to argue that more study wouldn’t be a good thing. Robyn O’Brien, the author of The Unhealthy Truth, has long pointed to GMOs as a cause of the disturbing rise in childhood allergies. Yesterday she discussed the pig study in detail on her Prevention magazine blog, Inspired Bites, and she made an excellent case for the need for further independent testing. (Be sure to also check out Robyn’s widely-viewed TED Talk on GMOs.)
One obstacle to independent testing, however, is the fact that patent holders like Monsanto require purchasers of GM seed to sign an agreement promising not to perform any research on it. As Michael Hansen, Ph.D., senior scientist for Consumers Union, said in the Food Safety News story:
“Any study you want to do with these engineered crops, you need to get the company’s permission . . . Could you imagine if tobacco research was only done when the tobacco companies had the final say?”
That apparent fear of independent research leads me to this recent opinion piece by Kevin Coupe in Forbes magazine, “The Clear and Utterly Unscientific Case for GMO Transparency.” Freely admitting that he’s not completely up on the science, Coupe focuses on the simple question of transparency, arguing that Monsanto is on the losing side of the public relations war:
People aren’t stupid. If you explain why something is good for them, or that it tastes better, or is cheaper to manufacture, or can now be made available all year round … well, many will be willing to accept GMOs into their lives with open arms, checkbooks and minds.
But keep fighting the calls for labeling, and you create uncertainty and mistrust.
And now it looks as proponents of GMO labeling may be gaining some ground. After the crushing defeat of a GMO labeling ballot initiative in California last year, the Connecticut state legislature overwhelmingly passed a GMO labeling bill earlier this month. The catch, though, is that the bill contains a “trigger clause” that prevents the law from going into effect unless and until, as summarized by Grist, “similar legislation is passed by at least four other states, one of which borders Connecticut. Also, the labeling adopters must include Northeast states with an aggregate population of at least 20 million.”
According to Just Label It, a pro-GM-labeling advocacy group, 92% of Americans would like to see GM foods labeled — as they currently are in over 60 other nations.
On this question, I come out exactly where Kevin Coupe does in his Forbes piece:
The people who do not want to consume GMOs deserve as much consideration as vegetarians who don’t want to eat meat, Jewish people who want to keep Kosher, people with wheat allergies who need to stay away from gluten, or people with nut allergies who need to know if a product contains nuts or even has been made using equipment that has come into contact with nuts.
I don’t think that’s too much to ask. And they can only be obliged if GMOs are labeled when they are in food products.
. . . . Don’t do it, and I have to ask why.
Do You Love The Lunch Tray? ♥♥♥ Then “like” The Lunch Tray! Join over 6,000 TLT fans by liking TLT’s Facebook page (and then adding it to your news feed or interest lists) to get your Lunch delivered fresh daily, along with bonus commentary, interesting kid-and-food links, and stimulating discussion with other readers. You can also follow TLT on Twitter, check out my virtual bulletin boards on Pinterest and find selected TLT posts on The Huffington Post. And be sure to check out my video for kids about processed food, “Mr. Zee’s Apple Factory!”
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2013 Bettina Elias Siegel