» "Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced [last week] that U.S. commercial supplies of long-grain rice had become inadvertently contaminated with a genetically engineered variety not approved for human consumption." Is anyone surprised by this?
rebecca's pocket
.: August 2006 --> US rice supply contaminated with GM rice
US rice supply contaminated with GM rice
[ 08.25.06 ]
No. Nor by the escaped grass.
Even the Center for Science in the Public Interest says the genetically engineered rice in this case is safe, so this is a bit like fearing your cereal has become contaminated with milk. But there are other issues at work here besides safety. Anyone wishing to remain free of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) should have the right to do so which, in the US at least, means not eating (almost anyway - you could buy 100% organic). At the international level, several countries prohibit the importation of GMOs, and it will be interesting to see how they handle this. Will they ban rice imports or bend their restrictions?
Well, of course, that's the point for me. We have been assured over and over again that GMO plants are safe and controllable—and that only by planting deliberately can they be grown. They won't cross-pollinate. I've always been skeptical about that claim, but what can I do against the Monsanto lobby?
At the same time, the government has refused to label GMO products.
From my perspective, we've opened a big Pandora's box and we're being told not to worry about it. I don't believe we can control this.