Right to know

There was an interesting article in The River Reporter’s February 23-March 1 issue concerning pending legislation in Albany that would require the labeling of all GMO (genetically modified organism) seed sold in the state.

For those not familiar with this relatively new technology, scientists take genes from one plant or animal and implant it into a different type of plant or animal. In one example, genes of the bacterium Bt, that kills caterpillars, are implanted into corn, making the entire plant poisonous to corn borer. It is not clear at this point how the residues of Bt affect us over time when we eat the corn. While Bt occurs naturally in soil, our digestive systems have never been exposed to large quantities of this bacterium that paralyzes the stomachs of caterpillars. Yet, currently, over 50 percent of the corn grown for processing for human consumption (think corn flakes) is GMO corn. Even more common is Round-up Ready soybeans. There, the soybean receives a gene that makes it able to withstand being sprayed with the herbicide Round-up. In this way, farmers can spray their crop to kill the weeds without damaging the crop. Convenient, but no one can be sure what the long term-effects of eating low doses of Round-up residues might be. At this time, more that 90 percent of the soybeans used in processed foods (soybean oil, meat fillers, etc.) are GMO.

Getting back to the article, it states, “Members of the biotech industry... think labeling is not needed.” I wonder why. Generally, when a company develops a product it is proud of, they shout from the rooftops, “New! Improved!” Farmers who want the special characteristics of these new seeds can then seek them out, and those who don’t are given a clear choice as well.

As with the farmers’ seeds, the food we buy at the supermarket remains unlabeled as to whether or not it contains genetically modified organisms. In fact, the biotech industry discourages food companies, by threat of lawsuits, from labeling their product “GMO free.” Why aren’t the products of this new technology labeled? The FDA’s position is that genetically modified food is not essentially different from foods produced through standard breeding, regardless of the fact that these new plants contain genes that could not be acquired through breeding. As I do my shopping, if I choose to avoid salt, preservatives, or any other food or additive for any reason or for no reason at all, I can by carefully reading the label, but I am given no choice when it comes to foods whose genetic code has been tampered with.

The reason given for not requiring labeling of seed, according to Lisa Dry of the Biotechnology Industry Organization, is that “because all GMO products in the marketplace have already undergone extensive review.” Many of these “reviews,” though, are conducted by the very same organizations that created the product. Talk about the fox guarding the henhouse! The corporations that create the GMOs assure us that they are safe for human consumption, but there was a time when it was believed that DDT was harmless to people and the environment. It wasn’t until years later that we found that the danger was in the cumulative effect, and by the time we figured that out, entire bird populations were nearly wiped out, including that of the bald eagle. Will we find, years from now, that there is a cumulative effect in eating low doses of Bt or residues of Round-up? And what effects will it have on our environment?

I think the jury is still out on the safety and advantages of using this new technology over the long run, and I, for one, feel I have a right to know how my food is produced. Labeling all GMO seed sold in the state is only a first step. We also need to pressure legislatures to demand labeling of foods produced using genetically modified food crops.

To learn more about this complex issue and related topics, read Jane Goodall’s new book “Harvest for Hope,” or check out these websites:

• Northeast Organic Farmers Assoc. at nofany.org and click on ‘Hot Topics’

• biotech-info.net

• thecampaign.org