http://rareseeds.com/say_no_to_gmo
Just Say NO to GMO’s
•Riots in Europe over “Frankenfood.”
•Movements worldwide to pass legislation that would prevent gene-altered foods from being sold in grocery stores or at a minimum, to be clearly labeled as GMO (Genetically Modified Organism).
•A major agri-business supplier tries to suppress the results of a study conducted by its own scientists.
•Roundup herbicide used routinely to control weeds by spraying directly on growing food crops, such as corn and soy beans.
•People by the hundreds of thousands turn increasingly to Heirloom seeds to produce their own food.
A Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) results from a discipline called Genetic Engineering which involves taking genes from one species and inserting them into another. For example, genes from an arctic flounder which has “antifreeze” properties may be spliced into a tomato to prevent frost damage. It is impossible to guide the insertion of the new gene. This can lead to unpredictable effects.
The process of creating GMO’s bears no resemblance to traditional breeding techniques. The government’s own Genetic Modification (Contained Use) Regulations admit this when it defines GM as “the altering of the genetic material in that organism in a way that does not occur naturally by mating or natural recombination or both”.
In sharp contrast to hybrids, Heirlooms trace their ancestry back many years to a time when pesticides and herbicides were not in use. As Jere Gettle, the owner of Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Co. puts it, “Basically, an Heirloom seed is one that has been passed down through families and is usually considered to be over 50 years old.” Unlike hybrid GMO’s, which cannot reproduce, Heirloom seeds can be saved and replanted, ensuring a trustworthy supply of family food year after year.
Says Jere, “People are really tired of the way produce in the supermarket tastes. They remember when they were kids and the delicious produce that came from their grandma’s garden. The tomatoes tasted good and the melons were sweet. Everything that they’re bringing in from Mexico and California is picked green and shipped, and it just doesn’t taste like it used to.” Also, people are starting to get more concerned that the nutritional value is gone as well. “More and more allergies keep developing,” Jere added. “And a lot of people think that might have something to do with genetic engineering, all the different chemicals they’re spraying on the foods.”
The bottom line: Until agri-business companies can positively assure the public through replicatable tests that eating GMO food is safe, food that has been genetically modified should be labeled as such, as a bare minimum precaution. This would cost practically nothing and would give consumers a choice, instead of being unwittingly lulled into buying food that might be bad for them.
Sort of like the initial reactions of Europeans to new world foods.
...there is a notice in the cafeteria of the Monsanto pharmaceutical factory is High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, advising customers 'as far as practicable, GM soya and maize (has been removed) from all food products served in our restaurant. We have taken the steps to ensure that you, the customer, can feel confident in the food we serve.'