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US House Committee Approves Anti-GMO Labeling Law
An anonymous reader writes: The House Agriculture Committee approved a measure banning mandatory GMO labeling as well as local efforts to regulate genetically engineered crops. The decision is a major victory for U.S. food companies and other opponents of labeling genetically modified foods. "This... legislation will ensure that Americans have accurate, consistent information about their food rather than a 50 state patchwork of labeling laws that will only prove costly and confusing for consumers, farmers and food manufacturers," said Pamela Bailey, CEO of the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), said in a statement.
The big thing you have to remember about this is that traits are not one-to-one with genes. One gene can affect many different traits and one trait can be affected by many different genes. When you genetically engineer an organism, you run the risk of creating or altering traits you never intended. This can and has lead to problems like feed corn that's toxic to the cattle and pigs it was intended for.
Celiac disease dates back to the 2nd Century and was given its current name in 1856.
GCHQ Quantum Insert installed. If only our tongues were made of glass, how much more careful we would be when we speak
Then I will pick up the torch.
Every GMO sold in the U.S. has undergone extensive pre-market safety testing. What specifically about this process do you feel to be deficient. Especially in light of the fact that many other tools, such as random mutagenesis via radiation, do not require any pre-market testing depite having actually made people sick (unlike any GMO in the last 20 years).
Bureaucracy expands to meet the needs of the expanding bureaucracy.-Oscar Wilde
From the FDA's web site (emphasis mine):
Food and food ingredients derived from GE plants must adhere to the same safety requirements under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic (FD&C) Act that apply to food and food ingredients derived from traditionally bred plants .
The developer produces a safety assessment , which includes the identification of distinguishing attributes of new genetic traits, whether any new material in food made from the GE plant could be toxic or allergenic when eaten, and a comparison of the levels of nutrients in the GE plant to traditionally bred plants.
FDA scientists evaluate the safety assessment and also review relevant data and information that are publicly available in published scientific literature and the agency's own records.
In my book that qualifies as a statement from the company of "trust us." There's no independent verification. Since GMOs are held to the same standard as traditionally bred plants, no standard either really.
Two of my imaginary friends reproduced once
Because these labels are all about creating fear in the mind of the consumer. There are no studies showing that GMOs are unsafe, so opponents are trying to skip the science and just scare people.
There's nothing you could eat that has ever done that. Unless you're a cannibal.