Ideal Bite

I generally love your tips, but I do get a little frustrated with the fierce reaction that most environmentalists seem to have to GM foods. I very much consider myself an environmentalist, and in many ways GM crops can be a sound environmental decision. Many of them do not require the use of pesticides, and drought and insect-resistent varieties can be critical for people in developing countries who see their crops destroyed year after year. I actually work with a program at the International Food Policy Research Institute (Program for Biosafety Systems) that is dedicated to working with countries in Africa and Asia on creating biosafety systems that can effectively measure the multiple effects of GM products. I think that instead of mindlessly calling GM foods "Frankenfoods," it makes much more sense to do some research and analyze the costs and benefits. By the way, these are my views only, not those of my organization!

Does anyone know where I can find some PVC-free vinyl fabric for sewing diapering goods? Thanks!

Christina, I totally understand where you're coming from. I think there's a lot of reactionary feelings towards things like GMO and irradiating food, likely because of folks' emotional attachment to food and distrust of large corporations. That said, there are many good reasons to distrust genetic engineering of life forms. Particularly because they are rushed on to the market WITHOUT the sufficient testing you mentioned. They might pose health risks just as medications that aren't thoroughly tested do. However, the greater danger is not in our consumption but what the potential unknown effects when those GMOs are released into nature. History is full of stories of humans bringing animals into environments where they have no natural predators and they run amok. Fast forward to the present: read about Caulerpa taxifolia (Vahl) C.Agandh, a genetically modified seaweed created for aquariums that is now loose in the wild, choking out natural species of seaweed and the creatures that dined on them, and filling up formerly pristine waters in the Mediterranean and Australia. We can't afford to be cavalier with GMOs. The problem is, because there is high potential for profit, and the push to market GMOs is coming from large corporations for profit reasons, they are going to want to rush through these things to market. Proper research is not going to get done without popular demand and (as a result of popular demand) government intervention. Anyway, that wasn't even the reason for my coming to post a message here. I wanted to gripe to the Biter team again: Would you folks please, please start citing your sources!? It doesn't even have to be in the email bite, but if you can include reference material somewhere. You give absolutely zero reasons why I should take your word for anything, and you make claims all the time that you don't back up with facts. It's not that I don't trust your claim about the way fruits are labeled, but it would be nice to have independent verification before I go forwarding this on to everyone (big pet peeve: people forwarding misinformation by email). Otherwise, keep up the good work!

Colinski, thank you for your thoughtful response. Of course there could be negative repercussions of introducing GMOs, but I don't think that opposition to them should be absolute. The US is particularly bad about not considering the socioeconomic and other impacts of GMOs before releasing them. I too am wary of the Monsantos of the world, but I feel a bit better that there are objective research organizations out there (such as mine) that can act as mediators between the corporations and the very radical green groups. :-)

That was the funniest blog entry ever. :) Nice job, Jen.

My main objection is the lack of transparency on the issue of genetically modified foods. Shouldn't consumers KNOW what they are eating? Why is it up to the Non-GMO brands to label themselves, or up to consumers to decipher numbers? (Good tip, however, for those who know about it, so thanks!) http://doesabodygood.blogspot.com

If Mother Nature didn't make it, I don't want it.

I'm with Melissa and Michelle (above) on this one! However I came on here to ask a question. I am Canadian, yes I am cold right now, yesterday the temperature was reaching record setting levels at -47 degrees Celcius, if that means nothing to you, it is don't-bother-getting-out-of-bed- nor-going-to-work-cause-your-car-doors-are-frozen-not-that-it-matters-cause-the-engine-is-frozen-and-transit-is-almost-halted-as-well...cold! Moving along, today's (jan.31) comment talked about barcodes on produce. I am wondering if the number codes informing of GMs / organic status etc hold up in Canada?

Your tip gives codes for conventional and organic, but doesn't add anything specific about any additional GMO code. Do you mean for us to assume that all 4-digit labels also indicate the presence of GMO?

Wow this is a great website! I was wondering how in the world do people come up with these things?!?!? I mean do you guys really think that people will realy try this? ( Don't worry I will!!!)But I think that this is the best website! I totaly agree with Christina on this one though...