- Politically, Democrats who typically support environmental and health legislation are being put on the defense on this issue. Some are arguing that environmentalists should withhold support from Democrats who do not seem to line up with the GMO-free camp. As an example, simply Google 'Obama and Monsanto Protection Act.' Be prepared to find a slew of attack articles, such as this one from Alex Jones' InfoWars site: http://www.infowars.com/top-10-excuses-for-obama-signing-the-monsanto-protection-act/
- Much of the information about GMO dangers is low-quality, and is undermining the credibility of the issue and people who are concerned about the issue. Take the example of Anthony Gucciardi of the Natural News, Natural Society, and Real Farmacy websites. His own biography states that he has worked with InfoWars and the Drudge Report. There is a good overview of his approach to GMO journalism here: http://theprogessivecontrarian.wordpress.com/2012/12/20/anthony-gucciardi-anti-science-crackpot-and-pretend-journalist/
- We already have a GMO-free label: USDA Certified Organic. The reason why the FDA opposes the use of the words GMO-free is that it is impossible to certify this in our food systems. GMO contamination at trace levels is common. (Source: http://goo.gl/OuNRf)
- There are no proven health effects of GMO, yet activists opposed to GMO continue to argue of illnesses including cancer. These health concerns are resulting in consumers choosing to avoid GMO food, instead buying only organic foods even if it reduces their food budget or is not as nutritious as conventional food. (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetically_modified_food_controversies#Health and http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/organic-food-no-more-nutritious-than-conventionally-grown-food-201209055264)
- Organic food is popular and growing, regardless of GMO labeling. From 1990 to 2010, the organic market grew from $1 Billion to over $26 Billion in the United States, including an almost 10% increase from 2009 to 2010. Organic products from the United States account for 80% of the $50 Billion worldwide market. (Source: http://www.ota.com/organic/mt/business.html)
- Creating a duplicate labeling system for 'bad' foods, or foods containing GMO, sets up regulators to receive a barrage of lawsuits from companies that have to carry this label. In fact, it is unrealistic that forcing companies to label their products as containing GMO will ever be something that would make it through the courts - even if the law requires it. This is exactly why I believe Prop 37 was defeated in California, not simply because opponents outspent supporters by several million dollars.
The bottom line for me is that we need to educate ourselves, but not at the expense of sacrificing scientific standards and literacy. We need to encourage organic food production and consumption, but not at the cost of nutrition and alienating potential partners and stakeholders. We need to stop vilifying people who are trying to share some common sense on this issue. We need to focus on the rational, debatable side of the issue and not on the polarizing, negative, and emotional side.
