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Are GMOs good or bad [W:104]

Are GMO foods good or bad?

  • Total voters
    35
Fisher said:
depends on what the modification is and what you consider to be good or bad, really. I don't know that life hangs in the balance because they developed a stringless string bean. The hybridization of plants like wheat, rice and corn, however, have saved a lot of lives in the third world by increasing yields and decreasing costs.
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But we are not a third world country.
 
GottaGo said:
But we are not a third world country.
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Parts of the US might as well be, and we are the country that makes gazillions of dollars on GMO products. 2% feed the 98%.
 
Fisher said:
Parts of the US might as well be, and we are the country that makes gazillions of dollars on GMO products. 2% feed the 98%.
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Though I disagree, Our poorest are better off then most third world countries in virtually every aspect, why would this justify not providing the information about what we are consuming?
 
GottaGo said:
Though I disagree, Our poorest are better off then most third world countries in virtually every aspect, why would this justify not providing the information about what we are consuming?
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Because it only matters to granola eating people who would already be informed if they were concerned. If I were allergic to peanuts, I would already read the ingredients for peanuts. I have no food allergies that I am aware of, so none of that matters. Should we also put warning labels on everything in plastic that the chemicals in the plastic are dangerous for you, especially if you heat it?
 
Fisher said:
Because it only matters to granola eating people who would already be informed if they were concerned. If I were allergic to peanuts, I would already read the ingredients for peanuts. I have no food allergies that I am aware of, so none of that matters. Should we also put warning labels on everything in plastic that the chemicals in the plastic are dangerous for you, especially if you heat it?
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So why would they be adamant about making it more difficult for people to know what is in their food?

YOU have no allergies, but many people do, and not just to common things like peanuts. And because of that particular allergy, notices are on the package regarding it, and some other common ingredients. But some are not, and I DO have an allergy, a rather uncommon one admittedly, but to an ingredient that is not REQUIRED to be specified, and used extremely commonly in most prepared foods, even organic ones. Some do list it, some don't.

You made me laugh (not in a good way) with the comment regarding granola eating people, which is so utterly false. Your obvious disdain colors your entire perspective.
 
GottaGo said:
So why would they be adamant about making it more difficult for people to know what is in their food?

YOU have no allergies, but many people do, and not just to common things like peanuts. And because of that particular allergy, notices are on the package regarding it, and some other common ingredients. But some are not, and I DO have an allergy, a rather uncommon one admittedly, but to an ingredient that is not REQUIRED to be specified, and used extremely commonly in most prepared foods, even organic ones. Some do list it, some don't.

You made me laugh (not in a good way) with the comment regarding granola eating people, which is so utterly false. Your obvious disdain colors your entire perspective.
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I grow and buy organic and I eat granola. regardless, there is no need to label it because GMO's aren't added to the food--they are the food. there is nothing you are going to do about it in most cases because there is no alternative.
 
Fisher said:
I grow and buy organic and I eat granola. regardless, there is no need to label it because GMO's aren't added to the food--they are the food. there is nothing you are going to do about it in most cases because there is no alternative.
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I know it's not an additive. And yes there is alternatives.

Around here, Grainger County is known for it's tomatoes, and certain farms, not organic, do not grow GMO tomatoes. It's general public knowledge. It's like grading eggs... you expect a certain quality (size, for eggs) and when that 'product' has been changed, there is some method of determining that. That's called informing the consumer.

By altering the DNA of (as example) the tomato they have changed it, but presented it as the same as previously provided, which is false.

The monopoly that has been created has powerful lobbying influence, to the detriment of consumers. And there are those who feel we don't have the right to know, and the rest just don't give a ****.
 
GottaGo said:
I know it's not an additive. And yes there is alternatives.

Around here, Grainger County is known for it's tomatoes, and certain farms, not organic, do not grow GMO tomatoes. It's general public knowledge. It's like grading eggs... you expect a certain quality (size, for eggs) and when that 'product' has been changed, there is some method of determining that. That's called informing the consumer.

By altering the DNA of (as example) the tomato they have changed it, but presented it as the same as previously provided, which is false.

The monopoly that has been created has powerful lobbying influence, to the detriment of consumers. And there are those who feel we don't have the right to know, and the rest just don't give a ****.
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They only difference between a hybrid and a GMO is that one occurs in nature and one occurs in a lab, but the one that occurs in the lab is just a faster version of what occurs in nature. If you don't want GMO's, grow your own. Otherwise there is no reason to scare the hell out of people for no reason whatsoever.
 
I just don't see the argument against it outside of just hating corporations.

I think every reputable study has shown than they're safe.
 
Fisher said:
They only difference between a hybrid and a GMO is that one occurs in nature and one occurs in a lab, but the one that occurs in the lab is just a faster version of what occurs in nature.
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I don't think so. There are no square tomatoes in nature.
 
Fisher said:
They only difference between a hybrid and a GMO is that one occurs in nature and one occurs in a lab, but the one that occurs in the lab is just a faster version of what occurs in nature. If you don't want GMO's, grow your own. Otherwise there is no reason to scare the hell out of people for no reason whatsoever.
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But why do you think labeling would scare the hell out of people? Knowledge is power, for those who choose to use it. But the GMO industry chooses not to share the 'knowledge', and that feeds into the negativity that some hold about GMOs. It just doesn't make sense.

NQR's post was about the most informative I've seen anyone on this board make regarding the subject. I don't know the validity of the information, but instead of people calling others idiots and morons for questioning GMO, he provided information.

There is more difference between GMOs and hybridization than just where it's done. Mother Nature doesn't care if there is a blemish on the skin of the tomato or the color of the broccoli is just 'so'.
 
Whatever you consume against law of nature is threat to your health at some point !!!
 
Canell said:
I don't think so. There are no square tomatoes in nature.
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So you know of every plant that does exist or will ever exist as a result of natural processes?

GMO's have been studied and approved. That people cannot differentiate between temporal correlation and actual causation is no reason to disrupt the food supply. This isn't a war for health--it is a war against corporate farming. Here is a clue--the insulin used by diabetics is **gasp** genetically modified. Those people clearly would be better off if there were no GMO's :slapme:
 
Fisher said:
So you know of every plant that does exist or will ever exist as a result of natural processes?

GMO's have been studied and approved. That people cannot differentiate between temporal correlation and actual causation is no reason to disrupt the food supply. This isn't a war for health--it is a war against corporate farming. Here is a clue--the insulin used by diabetics is **gasp** genetically modified. Those people clearly would be better off if there were no GMO's :slapme:
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And the synthetic insulins are label SYNTHETIC insulin. Imagine that. :slapme:
 
Fisher said:
GMO's have been studied and approved.
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Yeah, by people who like to play god. The long term implications are unknown.
DDT was also once "safe".
 
GottaGo said:
But why do you think labeling would scare the hell out of people? Knowledge is power, for those who choose to use it. But the GMO industry chooses not to share the 'knowledge', and that feeds into the negativity that some hold about GMOs. It just doesn't make sense.

NQR's post was about the most informative I've seen anyone on this board make regarding the subject. I don't know the validity of the information, but instead of people calling others idiots and morons for questioning GMO, he provided information.

There is more difference between GMOs and hybridization than just where it's done. Mother Nature doesn't care if there is a blemish on the skin of the tomato or the color of the broccoli is just 'so'.
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Being the tomato expert, you should know that most tomatoes are picked green and gassed to turn them red, regardless of what type of seed they are grown from. There is plenty of information about what is or isn't GMO in the web. If it contains corn, a corn product, or is cooked in corn oil it is genetically modified. If you are so into it for health reasons, you should already know this. The same for alfalfa, the same for sugar beets, the same for squash. The information that you allege is being hidden from consumers is readily available via google.
 
aberrant85 said:
I don't have much of an opinion on them, but I haven't done my research. On one hand, if they are demonstrated safe and supply a source of food for those the hungry that otherwise wouldn't be there, I support it. On the other hand, I think all such food should be labeled (a proposal that was shot down here in California) to give consumers as much information as possible, and let them decide.
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Labeled how? If a cow ate 2% GMO feed, say corn that was .0005% altered in its geneitic make-up, is the beef then labeled as "GMO beef", "2% GMO Beef" or "0.00001% GMO beef"?
 
Canell said:
Yeah, by people who like to play god. The long term implications are unknown.
DDT was also once "safe".
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If they are unknown, then how can you support that they are inferior?

It is the abundant supply of cheap food--carbs in particular--that poses the more likely health issues than the food itself.
 
aberrant85 said:
I don't have much of an opinion on them, but I haven't done my research. On one hand, if they are demonstrated safe and supply a source of food for those the hungry that otherwise wouldn't be there, I support it. On the other hand, I think all such food should be labeled (a proposal that was shot down here in California) to give consumers as much information as possible, and let them decide.
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Wouldn't it make more sense to have non-GMO producers to label their food if they choose to?
 
i only eat natural corn.

corn-and-teosinte_f.jpg

that corn on the right has been messed with for thousands of years, and that makes it absolutely deadly.

/GMOnoes!!!!
 
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GottaGo said:
And the synthetic insulins are label SYNTHETIC insulin. Imagine that. :slapme:
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Doesn't change that it is produced by genetically modified bacteria. It isn't like people have any choice in insulin. Quite a few of our pain medicines are also synthetic.
 
Fisher said:
Being the tomato expert, you should know that most tomatoes are picked green and gassed to turn them red, regardless of what type of seed they are grown from. There is plenty of information about what is or isn't GMO in the web. If it contains corn, a corn product, or is cooked in corn oil it is genetically modified. If you are so into it for health reasons, you should already know this. The same for alfalfa, the same for sugar beets, the same for squash. The information that you allege is being hidden from consumers is readily available via google.
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Grainger county tomatoes aren't gassed. And they disappear from local stores and farmer's markets at an astounding rate because they aren't picked green, gassed, given a coating for shine, sprayed with wax. Unfortunately, they do use round up for weed control, but the tomatos themselves are washed before going to the store. Try them some time, and you'll realize the difference immediately. ;)

I have some of the information already, there are sites that list natural and GMO information for produce, but they aren't easy to find, and why should it be necessary to hunt for information, especially when prepared foods don't list 'Red Beauty' tomatoes, just tomato.... and you don't know what kind.
 
Fisher said:
They only difference between a hybrid and a GMO is that one occurs in nature and one occurs in a lab, but the one that occurs in the lab is just a faster version of what occurs in nature. If you don't want GMO's, grow your own. Otherwise there is no reason to scare the hell out of people for no reason whatsoever.
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Not so. You can neither "mate" (crossbreed?) a plant with an animal in nature nor can you mate a rabbit and a fox.


What do you call a cross between a Mexican and an octopus?

I don't know either, but I'll bet that sucker could sure pick some lettuce. ;)
 
Fisher said:
If they are unknown, then how can you support that they are inferior?
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Simple: man cannot outsmart nature. Remember Frankenstein?
 
Fisher said:
Doesn't change that it is produced by genetically modified bacteria. It isn't like people have any choice in insulin. Quite a few of our pain medicines are also synthetic.
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Actually, they do have a choice. Non-synthetics are still available, and many people who are on limited budgets can get it rather inexpensively compared to the synthetics.
 
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