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Monsanto, the FDA, and genetically modified seeds
Special to Enviroblog by Amy Rosenthal, EWG's Farm & Food Outreach Coordinator.
Here at EWG we spend a lot of time investigating the failure of the Federal Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to keep our food, water and consumer goods safe. We focus on toxic chemicals, but, as it turns out, the FDA works pretty much the same no matter what "innovation" is getting pushed onto the market without labeling or testing.
Take genetically modified (GM) foods. The new documentary The World According to Monsanto takes an in-depth look at the billion dollar, multi-national corporation Monsanto and its push to spread its bio-engineered seeds. Though Monsanto is the main villain of this story, the FDA, with its failure to regulate this new and controversial technology comes across as its unquestioning ally.
The beginning of GM seeds. In the mid 90's, when Monsanto wanted to start selling its genetically engineered seeds, the FDA decided to treat GM foods just like their conventional counterparts. If they look and taste and smell the same, they must be the same, right? In an on-camera interview, a former FDA official involved with the evaluation of genetic engineering recounts that the agency found no reason to be worried about any potential risks of the new technology.
Industry studies...again. The rationale? FDA staff had reviewed all of the studies provided by Monsanto! (Incidentally, the largest of these studies had been deemed flawed by several scientists.) FDA felt no need to consider, for example, a Scottish study showing potential complications from the use of bioengineering technology, or the case of L-tryptophan, a supplement made using genetic engineering that sickened thousands and killed two dozen in 1989.
Hard for consumers to avoid FDA has never officially approved genetically engineered foods as safe. But silence is assent. Today, genetically modified seed varieties make up over 80% of soybeans and over 40% of corn planted in the U.S. And even if you want to avoid them, you can't: there are absolutely no requirements for special labeling of products with genetically engineered ingredients.
It's the same game at FDA, no matter which industry: pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, toxic chemicals. Avoid independent testing, describe your products as identical to those already on the market, fight any attempts to label them. At least the FDA is consistent!
I just wanted to post a story about farmers who are supporting the organic industry. If you have the time please inform yourself and support these farmers:
http://www.americasheartland.org/episodes/episode_115/organic.htm
I love this documentary. Thank you for opening my eyes to Monsanto's invasion.
Although GM has complications and hazards, it has the potential benefit of increasing primary industry production. The issue should be a focus on regulating and testing GM products rigorously to ensure they are safe before they are put on the market (or indeed, used in an ecology).
It's too bad that the general public of the U.S. are not even aware that this is going on. Monsanto will block every effort to make sure citizens are not aware that they are being feed round up in their food. The EPA is a joke. And Monsanto has high ranking, former politicians in Washington, on the board of this company, protecting them all along the way, while lining their own pockets! It outragous!
What's this I'm hearing about HR 875? http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_875.html#toc1 Another attempt at Monsanto to corrupt our food safety and undermine small and organic farms?
Is EWG doing anything about this?
Thanks!
There's a lot of talk about HR 875 swirling around the Internet, but a lot of it seems to take valid concerns about the future of small farms and mix in a bit too much rumor and hearsay that aren't founded in the text of the legislation itself. For a good summation of the myths and facts about HR 875, I'd recommend Food & Water Watch: http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/food/foodsafety/background-on-h-r-875
The Internet has been swirling with talk about HR 875, but a lot of it seems to take valid concerns about the future of small farms and mix in a bit too much rumor and hearsay that aren't founded in the text of the legislation itself. For a good summation of the myths and facts about HR 875, I'd recommend Food & Water Watch: http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/food/foodsafety/background-on-h-r-875
What a poorly written completely biased article. Lisa, if you want to inform the public of the hazards of genetically modified seeds then do so. Don't use second grade tactics and say things like
"a supplement made using genetic engineering that sickened thousands and killed two dozen in 1989."
using such broad based language is the easy way to bias an article. If you really want to be a writer, learn how to use subtleties and tact.
Good day.
First Tom Visack and now the newest pinhead with the Government of the U.S.A former Monsanto lawyer hired by FDA as key advisor Michelle Taylor. Good luck people!
http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2009/07/06/daily47.html