GMOs

[Gamma Male]

What is everyone's opinion on gmos, or more specifically, transgenetic modification of food crops and gene splicing?

Should they be labeled? Should they be banned? Is the scientific consensus on the safety of GMOs wrong? Do they have negative enviromental impacts.







Personally, I think they're perfectly fine and that the only people who oppose them are either scientifically illiterate reactionaries who don't know what they're talking about, or being paid by the organic industry to demonize GMOs in hopes of securing a bigger market share.

Mandatory labels should be reserved for relevant nutrition and safety information. Saying you have a "right to know" whether or not your food was genetically modified is like saying you have a right to know whether or not your food was grown with yellow gardening tools or touched by Asian people.

[CosmicNoodle]

Personally, I think they're perfectly fine and that the only people who oppose them are either scientifically illiterate reactionaries who don't know what they're talking about, or being paid by the organic industry to demonize GMOs in hopes of securing a bigger market share.

Mandatory labels should be reserved for relevant nutrition and safety information. Saying you have a "right to know" whether or not your food was genetically modified is like saying you have a right to know whether or not your food was grown with yellow gardening tools or touched by Asian people.

Basically what you said, I see nothing wrong with it, there has been no shown ill effects, or problems creating and distributing them, like you said, most people who don't like it, don't understand it, or it disagrees with there religion or some BS like that.

[Stronk Serb]

I am neutral on the topic. I heard of some ill effects, I might find and link them tonight, if I don't, it didn't happen. I'm OK with selling it but I'm skepitical about bringing it to my family table. Heard the seeds last for one generation and the leading developer of the GMOs is that company which made Agent Orange, that chemical used in 'Nam. And we do have a right to know. I don't want GMOs on my table, not now at least.

[Typhlosion]

Aww, I thought this would be more on the ethics of GMOs.

While I am somewhat uneducated on GMO animals, GMO crops are great and yield so much more. The labels, if absolutely necessary, should promote GMO usage as a good thing.

[Living For Love]

I support it and I think it's an area where governments should keep investing on. We already have the example of the "golden rice", which was considered a success when it was produced. I disagree with the OP in one point, though, I think the labels should carry the information concerning whether the product is a GMO or not.

[Gamma Male]

Heard the seeds last for one generation
Sometimes, yes, but it was already standard practice in the farming industry to buy new seeds every year anyway. This is something farmers were already doing to save money because it's cheaper to buy new seeds than to reuse ones from the previous crops due to the extra processing and whatnot.
and the leading developer of the GMOs is that company which made Agent Orange, that chemical used in 'Nam.
Monsanto was one of many corporations which helped to develop certain chemicals which the government than used to create agent orange. It's not as if they created it themselves.
And we do have a right to know.
You cam already find out with a simple app or by asking the producer. There's no need for extra government beuracracry and mandatory labeling.
I don't want GMOs on my table, not now at least.

Then don't buy them. There's no need to demand they be labeled.


Many people argue for GMO labels in the name of increased consumer choice. On the contrary, such labels have limited people's options. In 1997, a time of growing opposition to GMOs in Europe, the E.U. began to require them. By 1999, to avoid labels that might drive customers away, most major European retailers had removed genetically modified ingredients from products bearing their brand. Major food producers such as Nestlé followed suit. Today it is virtually impossible to find GMOs in European supermarkets.

Americans who oppose genetically modified foods would celebrate a similar exclusion. Everyone else would pay a price. Because conventional crops often require more water and pesticides than GMOs do, the former are usually more expensive. Consequently, we would all have to pay a premium on non-GMO foods—and for a questionable return. Private research firm Northbridge Environmental Management Consultants estimated that Prop 37 would have raised an average California family's yearly food bill by as much as $400. The measure would also have required farmers, manufacturers and retailers to keep a whole new set of detailed records and to prepare for lawsuits challenging the “naturalness” of their products.