From: hal@finney.org
Date: Thu Jun 28 2001 - 18:12:42 MDT
Harvey writes:
> I am not talking about undetectable influences like horoscopes. I am
> talking about the introduction of chemical ingredients such that the list of
> chemicals making up a food is different. Golden rice = rice +
> beta-carotene. If I mixed up a batch of rice in a vat, added beta-carotene,
> and then sold it as "rice", I would be arrested. The ingredients list would
> be lacking one of my ingredients. I don't see why GMO rice that is
> chemically the same as rice+beta carotene should be exempt from proper
> labeling. Just because the new chemical has been added through genetics
> does not make it invisible. The final product is clearly different than
> other rice. That's the whole point. Why not call it "golden-rice" and
> label it as having more beta-carotene?
The problem is, in general there's not always a clear
distinction between the use of genetic engineering to create
new strains, and more conventional techniques. Take a look at
http://www.cropsci.uiuc.edu/vt/corn00/northernreg00.htm; you will see
over 175 different varieties of corn being compared in a particular
area of Illinois. These are all created through selective breeding
and other techniques, and they will vary in their nutritional profile,
yield, kernel size, moisture and other parameters. Some of them will
undoubtedly have more vitamins and minerals than others, some will
probably have more of certain allergens than others.
Probably these were not produced with genetic engineering (although I see
that one of the companies is called BIO GENE). So at present the makers
of processed foods don't have to tell you what variety of corn was used
to make their corn oil or corn meal. Why should it be different when
they start using genetic engineering to change the varieties as well?
I suspect that most genetic modifications won't be as simple as adding
a gene for beta carotene or immunity to Roundup herbicide. These are
just the first generation crops where they are making simple changes.
With time they will be making many more changes, using these new tools
to craft the crops much more precisely than was possible in the past.
They'll be able to make the ultimate corn, with just the size, shape,
flavor, texture, nutritional and growing qualities that are desired.
How are you going to label that? There may be dozens of gene tweaks
in there, plus there is probably still going to be old-fashioned
hybridization and cross breeding as well. Short of providing a complete
genetic analysis of every ingredient in your food there is no way you're
going to be able to clearly describe the manipulations.
Hal
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