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Saturday, 24 January 2015
quote [ A recent survey by the Oklahoma State University Department of Agricultural Economics finds that over 80 percent of Americans support ?mandatory labels on foods containing DNA,? about the same number as support mandatory labeling of GMO foods ?produced with genetic engineering.? ]
This is why I can't support labeling of GMO foods. It's just one survey, and the question wasn't the main thrust, but still.
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steele said @ 1:57pm GMT on 24th January
Sadly, it's an issue on both sides. The number of people who consider themselves scientifically literate because they graduated high school and watch the Big Bang Theory, but haven't picked up a non-fiction book since school is maddening to me.
Remember when NDT made that statement equating all GMOs to artificial selection? Suddenly all the IFLScience fans on my facebook feed are experts on GMOs, just not enough to realize that NDT's statement didn't address any of the actual concerns anti-GMO people have. So much so that he had to release a follow up on his facebook page distancing himself from the shitstorm.
In reality the Anti-GMOers' concerns come down to four things:
- Lack of understanding of the techniques used.
- Lack of trust of the techniques used.
- Lack of trust of the companies using the techniques.
- Lack of trust in the regulating agency saying this food is safe.
If you want to solve the Anti-GMO movement you need to address those four pillars. Anything else is pissing in the wind.
All that being said, I'm not anti-GMO, but I do think the labels should be mandatory as it informs and in a way, once combined with education, empowers the consumer. As for the DNA labeling, I would probably say yes just because I think it would be amusing for people to realize how prevalent DNA is :)
steele said @ 9:17am GMT on 24th January
Sadly, it's an issue on both sides. The number of people who consider themselves scientifically literate because they graduated high school and watch the Big Bang Theory, but haven't picked up a non-fiction book since school is maddening to me.
Remember when NDT made that statement equating all GMOs to artificial selection? Suddenly all the IFLScience fans on my facebook feed are experts on GMOs, just not enough to realize that NDT's statement didn't address any of the actual concerns anti-GMO people have. So much so that he had to release a follow up on his facebook page distancing himself from the shitstorm.
In reality the Anti-GMOers' concerns come down to four things:
- Lack of understanding of the techniques used.
- Lack of trust of the techniques used.
- Lack of trust of the companies using the techniques.
- Lack of trust in the regulating agency saying this food is safe.
If you want to solve the Anti-GMO movement you need to address those four pillars. Anything else is pissing in the wind.
All that being said, I'm not anti-GMO, (though I agree with some of their concerns) but I do think the labels should be mandatory as it informs and in a way, once combined with education, empowers the consumer. As for the DNA labeling, I would probably say yes just because I think it would be amusing for people to realize how prevalent DNA is :)
<-- Entry / Current Comment
steele said @ 1:57pm GMT on 24th January
Sadly, it's an issue on both sides. The number of people who consider themselves scientifically literate because they graduated high school and watch the Big Bang Theory, but haven't picked up a non-fiction book since school is maddening to me.
Remember when NDT made that statement equating all GMOs to artificial selection? Suddenly all the IFLScience fans on my facebook feed are experts on GMOs, just not enough to realize that NDT's statement didn't address any of the actual concerns anti-GMO people have. So much so that he had to release a follow up on his facebook page distancing himself from the shitstorm.
In reality the Anti-GMOers' concerns come down to four things:
- Lack of understanding of the techniques used.
- Lack of trust of the techniques used.
- Lack of trust of the companies using the techniques.
- Lack of trust in the regulating agency saying this food is safe.
If you want to solve the Anti-GMO movement you need to address those four pillars. Anything else is pissing in the wind.
All that being said, I'm not anti-GMO, (though I agree with some of their concerns) but I do think the labels should be mandatory as it informs and in a way, once combined with education, empowers the consumer. As for the DNA labeling, I would probably say yes just because I think it would be amusing for people to realize how prevalent DNA is :)
