# GMO Foods: No one can seriously dispute what? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [August 1, 2014, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gmo-foods-no-one-can-seriously-dispute-what/694571 "2014-08-01T11:43:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2014, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gmo-foods-no-one-can-seriously-dispute-what/694571/202 "2014-08-14T15:30:40Z")
Since the scientific consensus is that GMO products are not harmful, this sounds like the perfect kind of problem that can be solved by the market. If enough people don’t want GMO foods, businesses will label for business reasons. But because the products are not harmful, according to the best science available, the government should not make any requirements here, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2014, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gmo-foods-no-one-can-seriously-dispute-what/694571/203 "2014-08-14T16:39:06Z")
By the way, I haven’t heard of any genetically modified carrots making it to market.\* The only GM veggies/fruits that one might encounter are some Hawaiian papayas, squash and sweet corn. \*Someone posted a blog article claiming that “baby carrots” are GM, which seems to be a fable. From what I can tell, all the “baby carrots” offered for sale are actually full-size carrots cut up into small sizes. They do however contain DNA. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2014, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gmo-foods-no-one-can-seriously-dispute-what/694571/204 "2014-08-14T18:17:49Z")
> [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](#): > > it leaves unanswered questions, such as, “What are the ingredients of this bag of Doritos? Is it GM corn, or not?” In the US, the answer is easy: yes, it has GM ingredients. If you don’t want GM ingredients, there are already multiple options to avoid them. The easiest to find is anything marked with the “USDA Organic” label. ---
**Author:** ![qazwart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/5fc32e/32.png) [@qazwart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qazwart)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2014, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gmo-foods-no-one-can-seriously-dispute-what/694571/205 "2014-08-14T20:30:12Z")
Imagine producing something like ketchup. You have a dozen different types of produce ingredients in your ketchup (sugar, corn syrup, tomatoes, onions, paprika, pepper, vinegar). To prevent having to declare your product as _GMO Free_, you must certify all of the ingredients from farm to your factory. How much does this add to the cost. Even kosher certification which also requires sourcing ingredients isn’t as strict as GMO sourcing. Certain products are just assumed to be kosher and don’t need direct certification. Not so with GMO. You need a certification process even before farmers plant their crops. if a manufacturer wants to go through such a certification process, they may do so right now. They can declare their products to be GMO free and charge a premium – which with any luck – will be high enough to cover the extra costs associated with certification. What you want is equivalent of all manufacturers must certify their products as kosher, or be forced to put on a label that their product is non-kosher. And, we don’t even cover who gets to certify the entire process. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2014, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gmo-foods-no-one-can-seriously-dispute-what/694571/206 "2014-08-14T22:54:06Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > My bag of sugar has a label, with ingredients listed. It says “sugar”. Is it beet or cane sugar? :eek: I will leave it to someone else to make a joke about an Irishman knowing his potatoes. Nope, not even I would stoop so low. I like eating Roundup-resistant corn. It adds a safety margin to the Roundup resistance I already have from not being a plant. ---
**Author:** ![EdwinAmi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5fc32e/32.png) [@EdwinAmi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EdwinAmi)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2014, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gmo-foods-no-one-can-seriously-dispute-what/694571/207 "2014-08-15T00:02:38Z")
> [@](#): > > I like eating Roundup-resistant corn. It adds a safety margin to the Roundup resistance I already have from not being a plant. Lol ---
**Author:** ![EdwinAmi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5fc32e/32.png) [@EdwinAmi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EdwinAmi)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2014, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gmo-foods-no-one-can-seriously-dispute-what/694571/208 "2014-08-15T00:16:38Z")
what I don’t get is why the expectation with labeling be that they actually test to make sure therer are no GMOs in the food. Isn’t it enough to just not buy from GMO farms? However dominant the genes are and however common the plants become, it would seem to me that there’s enough room out there that the plants won’t cross breed that much. And expecially it neds to be considered most farmers buy their seed, which is grown on specific seed farms. ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2014, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gmo-foods-no-one-can-seriously-dispute-what/694571/209 "2014-08-15T15:07:22Z")
> [@tracer](#): > > Yeah, I just noticed that too. > > Is Unca Cece slipping? Increased costs can and do decrease revenue. Every time I spend a dollar on my production costs I have fewer dollars to put into sales. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2014, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gmo-foods-no-one-can-seriously-dispute-what/694571/210 "2014-08-15T15:19:50Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > \*Someone posted a blog article claiming that “baby carrots” are GM, which seems to be a fable. From what I can tell, all the “baby carrots” offered for sale are actually full-size carrots cut up into small sizes. They do however contain DNA. :eek: Did you read the article I posted? There are 250 known commercial varieties of baby carrots that are grown specifically to have a thinner diameter and no core, and are sweeter. However, yes, they are longer carrots that are cut and peeled into short rounded shapes. ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2014, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gmo-foods-no-one-can-seriously-dispute-what/694571/211 "2014-08-15T17:13:31Z")
> [@EdwinAmi](#): > > what I don’t get is why the expectation with labeling be that they actually test to make sure therer are no GMOs in the food. Isn’t it enough to just not buy from GMO farms? However dominant the genes are and however common the plants become, it would seem to me that there’s enough room out there that the plants won’t cross breed that much. And expecially it neds to be considered most farmers buy their seed, which is grown on specific seed farms. How do you know that you’re buying from a non-GMO farm? Take the farmer’s word for it? Not sure that that will fly. Glad to know you don’t think the plants will breed but some people aren’t as trusting. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2014, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gmo-foods-no-one-can-seriously-dispute-what/694571/212 "2014-08-15T17:47:19Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > There are 250 known commercial varieties of baby carrots that are grown specifically to have a thinner diameter and no core, and are sweeter. Have any been produced using genetic modification techniques and are now on the market? > [@Irishman](#): > > …yes, they are longer carrots that are cut and peeled into short rounded shapes. Is there an echo in here? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2014, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gmo-foods-no-one-can-seriously-dispute-what/694571/213 "2014-08-16T08:29:19Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Have any been produced using genetic modification techniques and are now on the market? I have no information on that, but I don’t think so. > [@](#): > > Is there an echo in here? 🙂 I was confirming what you said. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2014, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gmo-foods-no-one-can-seriously-dispute-what/694571/214 "2014-08-18T14:23:57Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > In the US, the answer is easy: yes, it has GM ingredients. > > If you don’t want GM ingredients, there are already multiple options to avoid them. The easiest to find is anything marked with the “USDA Organic” label. This actually isn’t true. Everything at Whole Foods is organic if I’m not mistaken, but the staff tells me that their products are not all GMO-free. Apparently they are working on it. And, of course, the easiest way for a consumer to be able to avoid (or choose!) GM products is by putting those two letters on the label. Sorry to take so long to respond, everybody. I should be able to get back to this tonight. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2014, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gmo-foods-no-one-can-seriously-dispute-what/694571/215 "2014-08-18T14:34:38Z")
Why do you want to avoid GM products, but not products that use certain pesticides etc? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2014, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gmo-foods-no-one-can-seriously-dispute-what/694571/216 "2014-08-18T16:11:06Z")
> [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](#): > > Everything at Whole Foods is organic if I’m not mistaken, but the staff tells me that their products are not all GMO-free. I think you’re mistaken. From [Whole Foods’ website](http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/about-our-products/product-faq/gmos): _“We offer more organic choices every day, as all organic foods sold in the US must be certified to the USDA National Organic Standards, which prohibit the use of GMOs”_ That would seem to indicate that 1) Whole Foods’ stock is not completely organic, and 2) labeling something as organic means following a legal requirement that it not contain GMO ingredients. Eat organic and you don’t need any labeling pertaining to GMOs, unless you have a political/ideologic agenda to discourage their sale. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2014, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gmo-foods-no-one-can-seriously-dispute-what/694571/217 "2014-08-18T19:24:14Z")
Any product with the “USDA Organic” logo is GMO free. [PDF pamphlet](http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELDEV3004446). ---
**Author:** ![Killing\_Time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/76d3ee/32.png) [@Killing\_Time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Killing_Time)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2014, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gmo-foods-no-one-can-seriously-dispute-what/694571/218 "2014-08-18T20:24:12Z")
USDA says "The use of genetic engineering, or genetically modified organisms (GMOs), is prohibited in organic products. " [http://blogs.usda.gov/2013/05/17/organic-101-can-gmos-be-used-in-organic-products/](http://blogs.usda.gov/2013/05/17/organic-101-can-gmos-be-used-in-organic-products/) ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gmo-foods-no-one-can-seriously-dispute-what/694571/219 "2014-08-19T16:09:37Z")
There’s also the “certified non-GMO” label, for foodstuffs that are GMO-free but don’t necessarily meet the standards for USDA Organic. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gmo-foods-no-one-can-seriously-dispute-what/694571/220 "2014-08-19T16:23:03Z")
Even if you do buy organic food to avoid those “unsafe” GMOs, you might wind up eating something that [has real potential to cause harm](http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2017179239_organic08.html) (check out the “organic” ginger imported from China, which turned out to contain a pesticide that wasn’t even approved for spraying on conventional ginger crops). And [domestically grown organic crops](http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2013/05/hepatitis-a-illnesses-linked-to-organic-berries-sold-at-costco/#.U_N6VPLbFjc) are not free from health worries either. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gmo-foods-no-one-can-seriously-dispute-what/694571/221 "2014-08-19T16:38:48Z")
[http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/harvest/interviews/hotchkiss.html](http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/harvest/interviews/hotchkiss.html) Question regarding if traditional cross-breeding techniques are inherently safer: > [@](#): > > That’s kind of what you think because they’ve been around a long time. But there are lots of examples, for example, the potato, which, by the way, comes from South America. It was originally purple. We bred out the purple because we like white. The potato contains a naturally occurring chemical that’s quite toxic, called glycoalkaloid. Those glycoalkaloids in some potatoes, as a matter of fact, have caused severe human poisonings or near-death. When you breed potatoes, it’s possible to breed high levels of that toxicant into a potato. As a matter of fact, there are a number of breeds of potatoes that have high levels. Fortunately, they did not make the marketplace–for that reason. > > Another example of the risks of traditional breeding is celery. Celery naturally contains a photoactive toxicant, that is, a chemical that becomes toxic when it hits sunlight. There was a case in California where a new variety of celery was bred that, unknown to the people who bred it, had high levels of this toxicant in it. It was planted. People went along, harvested this, and the workers who harvested this came out with a very severe skin rash. Why? Because it had the high level of toxicant resulting from the commercial, normal kind of breeding. So the normal kind of breeding can produce risks, just as any other genetic or other kinds of breeding can produce risks. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gmo-foods-no-one-can-seriously-dispute-what/694571.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gmo-foods-no-one-can-seriously-dispute-what/694571.md?page=12)