It’s funny when I disagree with over half of an article and yet agree with the central thesis, in this case that there should be labeling of GEOs in the US. Consumer choice and information is a critical part of a functioning free market.
In most cases I’d be thrilled to eat a GEO, especially if it cost 25% less than conventional (and by extension, 50% or more less than organic). Given the resistance to organic foods based on cost concerns, I think a lot of consumers would do the same. Of course, producers don’t want to grow GEOs and get 75% of the price of conventional; they want to grow GEOs and get full price but produce more.
I think there’s a certain portion of the US population that is way too alarmist when it comes to food and pollution. I also think that the majority of the US population is far too complacent, and that the alarmist contingent ratchets up their fear and anger to try to compensate for the blissfully ignorant. I find it ironic that many of the same people who argue that we don’t understand well enough how some systems work are the same people who are quick to accept any tedious link between presumed toxins in the environment and disease. Yes, there are some horrible, horrible toxins that we know we are polluting the air and water with. And sometimes we’re better safe than sorry. Still, the increase in food allergies in recent years is almost certainly a product of improved diagnosis, similar to the uptick in Autism (*ducking behind a corner in case one of the Anti-vax crowd comes after me for that one*).
