‘GMOs are green? Yes, says expert’ (Gazette, Feb. 8) refers to Pamela Roland, U of California, Davis plant pathologist.
There are varied definitions by experts, which makes it easier for me to suggest that Dr. Roland is relying on “alternative facts.”
To quote Pamela Roland, “Many people have concerns about the safety of genetically modified foods,” which she blamed in part on inaccuracies promoted by celebrities. “Yet in the forty years GMOs have been in use there has yet to be any case of a modified crop causing harm to human health or the environment. We really need to look at the evidence.” Allow a non-celebrity to do that.
Not being a renowned plant geneticist, I will quote from GMO Myths and Truths www.earthopensource.org. Peer reviewed studies have found harmful effects on the health of animals fed GMOs. Effects include toxic and allergenic effects and altered nutritional value.
Myths and Truths devotes pages 37 to 64 to the health hazards of GM foods, documenting the research studies. Researchers who published studies that find harm from GM crops are attacked. Among those victims were Gilles-Eric Seralini, U of Caen in France and Arpad Pustzai, the Rowett Institute in Scotland.
A study involving 94 articles found either financial or professional conflict of interest associated with study outcomes that cast genetically modified products in a favourable light.
I've had the privilege of hearing Dr. Thierry Vrain. Dr. Vrain worked for 35 years for Agriculture Canada. He was designated as a spokesperson to assure the public of the safety of GMO crops. After he retired he spoke out about the devastating effects of GMOs, both to the environment and, in his words, sentient beings.
We may live in a post-truth era, but celebrities I've read of recently have urged people to 'fight back' or to use less strident words, push back.
Bill Bocock, Sturgeon County
