From Ronald Bailey’s “Attack of the Killer Crops,” Reason, March 2:
Activists are again trying to frighten poor people in developing countries by claiming the U.S. is poisoning them with genetically modified food. Never mind that 280 million Americans have been eating biotech-enhanced crops for nearly a decade with zero evidence that it has caused anyone so much as a sniffle or a bellyache.
Friends of the Earth tested samples of corn and soybean distributed both commercially and as aid to several Central American countries, to see if they contained genetically modified varieties. They really needn’t have bothered, since it’s public knowledge that 85 percent of U.S. soybean acreage and 45 percent of its corn are sown in biotech crop varieties that are resistant to pests and herbicides. What would be surprising is if they found no genetically enhanced corn or soybeans in food shipments from the States. The activists merely went through the motions of testing the crops to place a scientific façade on their latest biotech scare.
FOE claims to have found the genetically modified “StarLink” corn variety in the some of the food shipments. The press release notes, accurately, that “StarLink has never been authorized for human consumption anywhere in the world due to the potential allergenic content of its genetically modified protein.” Sounds serious, right? Not really.
In October 2000 activists seized on the news StarLink, approved by the Environmental Protection Agency only for animal feed, had been detected in two brands of taco shells, prompting recalls and front-page headlines. Lost in the furor was the fact that there was little reason to believe the corn was unsafe for human consumptionâ€â€only an implausible, unsubstantiated fear that it might cause allergic reactions.
After the fact, even StarLink’s parent company Aventis agreed that it was a serious mistake to have accepted the EPA’s approval for animal use only. Because so many crops can be eaten by both people and livestock, most biotech proponents favor planting genetically modified feed-crops only if they are proven safe for humans, too.
In the end, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control found that there was absolutely no evidence that anyone had suffered any adverse reaction to eating foods containing StarLink corn. FOE activists, eager to push their anti-biotech campaign forward by frightening uninformed poor people, have simply ignored the CDC’s findings.
Well, this is hardly a surprise, really. I mean, a good “activist” never lets facts get in the way of a truly impassioned crusade…
Jeff, this is really even worse than you are making it out to be. These Luddites are basically telling the third world that they should starve rather than consume these safe foods.
Jeff,
While I agree with the premise of your article, it appears that Starlink corn is STILL unauthorized for human consumption.
If Aventis regrets their decision not to fight the original EPA ruling, they should now take steps to remedy the situation.
As for FOE, while they may indeed be wingnuts, the facts would appear to be on their side this time.
Aventis needs to follow the procedures…or take steps to have them changed.
I take your point, WindRider, but I took Bailey’s article to be criticizing the larger trend toward using scare tactics to prevent the spread of genetically modified foods. You are right that they have legal niceties on their side; but they aren’t arguing legal niceties: they are suggesting that a product is harmful when they now know it isn’t.
Dude, we’re talking about corn here. I mean, I eat it, and when I shit it out it looks the same. Pennies aren’t neccesarily fit for human consumption, but I hear they too travel the human digestive tract in much the same manner as the aforementioned corn. I say, if it looks the same coming out, it probably ain’t doing much for my body anyways. So whether or not it is fit for human consupmtion doesn’t really matter, because all it is is a decoration my shit is wearing when it goes to the pool party, nah mean? Shut up and eat your free food.
Sir:
Is there another word more in need of vigorous deflation and ridicule than “activist”? And who better than yourself to prick and mock it?
And God forbid that any such modified crops find its way into the soil, where it may actually grow into actual corn, which could actually feed people, give them strength, and speak TRUTH TO POWER. Damn that Bush.
Well, these “activists” need people who are starving to death so they can fund raise by telling people they want to help the starving masses. If nobody’s starving, then they’re helpless.
Plus, for the average anti-corporate angrilefty, this is one more way to stick it to the man.
A timely topic.
I’m announcing a Draft Goldstein – Jeff, not the other ones
http://www.cspinet.org/about/jobs_agriculturedirector.html
well, I want to know what I put into my body, don’t you?
*can*
Yeah, but what about beets?
What those idiots also don’t know or want to admit is that man has been genetically engineering crops and flowers for hundreds, if not thousands of years. These new gm foods are just generated with more rigor and precision.
well, I want to know what I put into my body, don’t you?
I’m pretty sure that’s not a Jeff Gannon reference, so let’s not all dogpile on its author with ridicule and scorn.
‘Cause that would be unfair.
well, it’s none of your business what I put into my body. but I sure would like to know where it came from and where its been.
wait a second.
*again* harumph.
Lordy shit. If you wanna talk about genetically altered food try some of my Mom’s cooking. Let’s see those pussies try some of that!
Shank – try chewing (corn that is, not pennies).
There are very few people responsible for the saving of more lives than Noble Prize winner Norman Borlaug. If he supports GM food, then we should do everything in our power to see it spread to as many countries as possible.
The fake outrage over GM foods and DDT has resulted in more deaths than most despots combined.