GM crops approved

[DanishDynamite]

(Finally, some interesting news. What is holding up that much needed sub-forum for local American mud-slinging?)

The EU is expected to approve the cultivation of 17 different types of Genetically Modified corn on EU territory, tomorrow. This will be the first time that the EU approves the cultivation of any GM crop. The majority of crops are all developed by Monsanto, no less.

Any comments, (Shane Costello)?

 

[Patrick]

Well good ...economic well-being finally trumps irrational eurofears! Speaking of which, about five years ago I had a friend from Switzerland visit. She was nervous about anything cooked in my microwave oven. She said there was a widespread fear in switzerland that it somehow made the food dangerous, and that some small restaurants even advertised that they never used microwaves. Did you ever hear anything about this in europe?

 

[American]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!


I'm going to go block traffic now, and wave signs in the street, and network with anarchists and homeless hippies whose main income is from interstate drug-running.


NO CORN! NONE!!!!! Only organic non-FDA approved below-commercial-health-and-saftey-standards food should be consumed. Vegan, of course!

 

[shanek]

Cool! Can you send me some?

Seriously...this is good progress. More plentiful food has always been an effective way to improve the economy.

 

[DanishDynamite]

Originally posted by Patrick Well good ...economic well-being finally trumps irrational eurofears!

Economic well-being is fine. It shouldn't be a regard when considering safety of crops, though. I'm glad the EU felt likewise.

Speaking of which, about five years ago I had a friend from Switzerland visit. She was nervous about anything cooked in my microwave oven. She said there was a widespread fear in switzerland that it somehow made the food dangerous, and that some small restaurants even advertised that they never used microwaves. Did you ever hear anything about this in europe?

Nope. Never heard anything similar.

Microwaves have been in use here since...well, since forever.

 

[DanishDynamite]

Cool! Can you send me some?

Some GM corn? Not sure how to go about it, I'm afraid. Anyway, don't you have tons at home?

Seriously...this is good progress. More plentiful food has always been an effective way to improve the economy.

More plentiful food is always good, I agree.

 

[evildave]

Killer mutant microwave popcorn that eats people!

Run away!

 

[Patrick]

More plentiful food is always good, I agree

Not always. About the one thing the euros have right about the U.S. is there are too many fat people here. I think the biggest reason is cheap food. Americans are usually surprised how much food costs in foreign countries. (Worst I've ever seen: Tahiti). I spent 6 months in Sweden in 2001. I made a big effort to involve myself in the life and culture there. While I was flying back, I wondered what the first thing I would notice as different from what I got used to in Sweden. The first thing was the fat people in Chicago O'Hare airport. (Incidentally I am only ten pounds over.) I began to think of the Final Solution to the fat person problem. I envision a series of camps where they will be brought, served 1000 calories a day and engage in useful exercise. On the front gate: "Duennheit Mach Frei".

 

[thaiboxerken]

It's about time that science prevails over woo-woo beliefs.

 

[DanishDynamite]

More plentiful food is always good, I agree

Not always. About the one thing the euros have right about the U.S. is there are too many fat people here. I think the biggest reason is cheap food. Americans are usually surprised how much food costs in foreign countries. (Worst I've ever seen: Tahiti). I spent 6 months in Sweden in 2001. I made a big effort to involve myself in the life and culture there. While I was flying back, I wondered what the first thing I would notice as different from what I got used to in Sweden. The first thing was the fat people in Chicago O'Hare airport. (Incidentally I am only ten pounds over.) I began to think of the Final Solution to the fat person problem. I envision a series of camps where they will be brought, served 1000 calories a day and engage in useful exercise. On the front gate: "Duennheit Mach Frei".

Yes, my understanding is that obesity is becoming a real health problem in the US.

I'm not sure camps with Nazi-like inscriptions are the answer.

 

[DanishDynamite]

It's about time that science prevails over woo-woo beliefs.

I agree, but what does that have to do with this thread?

 

[shanek]

Not always. About the one thing the euros have right about the U.S. is there are too many fat people here.

This is a good point. Here, corn is so cheap (mostly due to farm subsidies) that they put high fructose corn syrup in damn near everything, making the foods more fattening, even ones you wouldn't ordinarily expect.

I think the biggest reason is cheap food.

On the balance, I think most people would agree that cheap food is good. Being fat beats starving, after all.

 

[evildave]

It's according to if the house is on fire and you can't fit through the door.

 

[Patrick]

This is a good point. Here, corn is so cheap (mostly due to farm subsidies) that they put high fructose corn syrup in damn near everything, making the foods more fattening, even ones you wouldn't ordinarily expect.

I'll be damned - I agree with you on something! I too have noticed the damn corn fructose syrup ingredient. A while back they started making everything SWEET. They put it in peanut butter, which I used to like because it tasted like peanuts, now it tastes SWEET. Same with tomato sauce and lots of other things.

 

[Shane Costello]

Originally posted by Danish Dynamite:
(Finally, some interesting news. What is holding up that much needed sub-forum for local American mud-slinging?)

The EU is expected to approve the cultivation of 17 different types of Genetically Modified corn on EU territory, tomorrow. This will be the first time that the EU approves the cultivation of any GM crop. The majority of crops are all developed by Monsanto, no less.

Any comments, (Shane Costello)?

Ireland will get a result against Switzerland tomorrow. Oh and you won't be surprised that I welcome the GM food approval. And don't worry, no-one is going to make you cultivate or eat them. Heck if they ever get around to getting rid of CAP, it mightn't be worth the trouble of anyone to grow them.

I agree, but what does that have to do with this thread?

That science has prevailed over a woo-woo? There is no evidence that GM crops are different to conventional ones. The EU has known this for three years. In fact it found that GM crops were, if anything, safer, and any unforeseen environmental effects would be identified very quickly with the current monitoring requirements.

 

[DanishDynamite]

Ireland will get a result against Switzerland tomorrow. Oh and you won't be surprised that I welcome the GM food approval. And don't worry, no-one is going to make you cultivate or eat them. Heck if they ever get around to getting rid of CAP, it mightn't be worth the trouble of anyone to grow them.

I thought you might feel that way.

And yes, lets get rid of the Common Agricultural Policy.

That science has prevailed over a woo-woo? There is no evidence that GM crops are different to conventional ones. The EU has known this for three years. In fact it found that GM crops were, if anything, safer, and any unforeseen environmental effects would be identified very quickly with the current monitoring requirements.

Good link. It shows part of the process whereby a new type of foodstuff is tested and accepted as fit for human consumption. I fail to see where the woo-woo bit is.