From: Robert J. Bradbury (bradbury@aeiveos.com)
Date: Thu Jun 28 2001 - 09:36:29 MDT
Brian commented on Linda's comments relating to my comments:
> Labeling requirements can be very simple:
>
> GMO: contains Bht type xxxx corn products. Period.
>
> Let's lose the rhetoric and let the market decide.
Yep, quite the ultimate simplification, but why not also
include:
Warning:
Contains natural plant toxins known to kill insects.
Warning:
Contains naturally bred higher than natural levels of
plant toxins known to cause skin rashes in individuals
who harvest these products.
Warning:
Contains higher than natural levels of plant toxins
induced through radioactive mutation methods that
may have induced unknown changes in other genes.
Warning:
Contains two specific genes for Bt protein XXX and
and antibiotic resistance gene. Less than typical
potentially carcinogenic pesticide levels are likely
to have been applied to this product.
Warning:
Contains genes from cross-breeding with *wild* plant
strains whose alergenicity has not bee determined
in humans.
I could go on for hours if you like. The point is you
are trying to simplify something that *isn't* simple.
Yes, you can put a single simple warning that the consumer
should go read the complete plant description on the seed
supplier's web site (just like you should go read the PDR
for any drugs your doctor prescribes). But how many of
us do that? Plus to impose "strain" purity on the aggregated
products delivered to consumers would more than likely raise
the prices (how do you think the Starlink fiasco occurred).
I understand Brian doesn't like paternalistic government
regulations (or lack thereof) but they exist for the most
part because they get it reasonably right most of the time
(seat-belts do save lives). If you don't like the regulations
or lack thereof you are free to purchase the "certified" organic
products or grow your own.
Robert
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