May 8, 2000 / Business Week
Kamela Evans of San Diego writes that she is bewildered by the uproar about
genetically engineered (or biotech) foods ("Biotech foods aren't out of the
woods yet," News: Analysis & Commentary, Apr. 17). Granted we should be
wary of ingested substances, yet when hysteria comes before concern or even
education, we should take these protests with a grain of salt. There are far
more genuine health concerns to be found in foods right under our noses,
such as fast foods, which are dangerously high in cholesterol and fat.
Genetically engineered foods are usually safer and more efficient than their
"natural" counterparts. Your garden-variety corn plant will need to be
sprayed more than 40 times a season to deter pests, whereas a genetically
engineered corn plant will not. Weren't these protesters the same ones who
were protesting spraying plants with such substances only a decade ago?
(posted without permission)
