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MLA wants labels on potentially toxic food
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by mtippett | May 12, 2008 at 08:56 am
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Vancouver-Fairview MLA Gregor Robertson plans to introduce a private member's bill in the legislature today making it mandatory to label genetically engineered food. The Right to Know Act would require producers and suppliers to warn consumers if products contain toxic chemicals or genetically engineered ingredients.
"People have a right to know what is in their food," said Robertson, an NDP MLA who is also seeking the Vision Vancouver mayoral nomination.
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (8)
at 09:12 on May 12th, 2008
The thing is, "genetically engineered" and "toxic chemicals" aren't the same thing. I absolutely agree that foods containing toxic chemicals should have warning labels. In fact, I think, it shouldn't be on sale at all if it contains toxic chemicals. But we've h had genetically engineered food for decades - wheat that resists smut, new varieties of fruit, etc. etc. I really don't see what the problem is.
at 09:30 on May 12th, 2008
I am not saying that GM food is always toxic but I'd like to know what I'm eating. If my corn has DNA from an animal in it that should probably be listed. We list calories on food. Why not the truly exotic stuff?
at 20:20 on May 14th, 2008
Peggy, you said "SMUT" tsk, tsk, Dirty Girl!
at 17:36 on May 12th, 2008
It should be no different than organic certification. If a food producer wants to state that their food is GMO-free than they should apply for a certification confirming that. That way people who are afraid of eating GMO can avoid them and buy certified non-GMO. Since there is no studies that I am aware of that show any harm to humans from eating GMO foods I do not see a need for regulations, inspectors and big government here.
at 18:27 on May 14th, 2008
mtippett, I like this story. It's good stuff. Let's hope this initiative goes somewhere. We should be able to choose whether to eat poisons or not.
at 18:49 on May 14th, 2008
GMO food is not poison. Stop being a fear-monger. You likely do not understand the science but that is no reason to tell lies about it. GMO foods are the only way the planet has avoided mass starvation of hundreds of millions in developing countries. Eat or don't eat whatever you want but if the truth is not compelling don't resort to lies to convince others of your opinions.
at 20:22 on May 14th, 2008
Gee East Ray, I wish I had said that!
at 20:30 on May 14th, 2008
mtippett, I like this story. It's good stuff. Genetically Modified Food has been around in one form or another for centuries in fact, apple varieties were all experiments of different apples, as were veggies by farmers and scienticians alike trying to improve fruits and veggies where growing conditions were not ideal. Rye and Wheat for instance, would become moldy, with smuts and rusts amongst other contaminates, in which proved poisonous to those who ate them, some hallucinated and were thought to be bewitched, thus labeled heretics and some burned at the stake. As East Ray put it, better foods, means less starvation to those who do not have the best growing conditions, with modifying their foods to grow. THough I agree with Mike, using Animal DNA to grow fruits and veggies, sorta creeps me out, Frankenfoods with Animal DNA certainly should be labeled.