Eat Your Genes: How Genetically Modified Food is Entering Our Diet [Paperback]

Stephen Nottingham (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1856495787 | ISBN-13: 978-1856495783 | Publication Date: July 15, 1998 | Edition: 1

Food safety scares such as salmonella in eggs or BSE in beef continue to cause public concern. But far more unnoticed is the way that genetic engineered food is entering our diet. This book looks at how this situation came about, revealing those responsible for driving genetically modified foods so rapidly on to the market. Stephen Nottingham argues that consumer pressure could decide whether these new products succeed or fail. His book gives us the facts: what these new foods are, how they are produced, why they remain unlabelled and how they are arriving on our plates unannounced. Never before has science been likely to have quite such a huge impact on our lives--after all, we are what we eat. Here is an issue every thinking person needs to apply their mind to. This is the book to help you do it.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Nottingham, a crop protection biologist who has done research in both the United States and Britain, writes about the genetic engineering of foods for human consumption, not only fruits and vegetables but also crop plants such as corn and soybeans that enter our diet as ingredients in processed foods. He also notes that genetically modified meat, fish, and poultry will be on the market in the near future. As Nottingham points out, the introduction of genetically altered food could have serious consequences, e.g., allergic reactions and increased resistance to certain antibiotics. Ranging widely to cover the history, science, business, international relations, risks, ethics, and consumer issues of genetic engineering, Nottingham's book will serve as an informative primer for both general readers and students. It is clearly written in a report style that is supported throughout by up-to-date facts and figures from around the world. Another very readable book on this topic, although not nearly as detailed or broad in scope, is Robin Mather's more personal and conversational A Garden of Unearthly Delights (LJ 5/1/95). Recommended for public libraries and undergraduate collections in academic libraries.?William H. Wiese, Iowa State Univ. Lib., Ames
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Free speech issues notwithstanding, Americans haven't forgotten that what brought Oprah Winfrey to a Texas court recently was controversy about mad cow disease and genetic engineering in the food supply. Nottingham offers a comprehensive look at these areas of growing concern. He catalogs the intended benefits (e.g., cows yielding more milk, and vegetables with longer shelf lives) and the unintended side effects (such as allergic reactions, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and environmental threats). And he examines the ethical issues: the humane treatment of animals raised for food, the cloning of animals, and concerns that, despite assurances by the scientific community, cloning will eventually be applied to the human species. He notes the growth of the pharming industry (combining agriculture products with pharmaceuticals) and the enormous profits to be made in patenting genetic engineering techniques. This extensively researched and footnoted work is heavy reading for those without biology or chemistry backgrounds; but Nottingham offers essential information for those concerned about genetically modified foods. Vanessa Bush --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Zed Books; 1 edition (July 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1856495787
• ISBN-13: 978-1856495783
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,577,086 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A most balanced view of a contentious subject., October 8, 1999

By 

Dr. Henry Ferguson ([e-mail]) (Albany, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Eat Your Genes: How Genetically Modified Food is Entering Our Diet (Paperback)

Genetically modified foodstuffs are one of the most contentious subjects in the world today and will become more so as trade talks include their export. Nottingham has written a clear, balanced and judicious summary of both the biotechnology involved by how it impacts both developed and developing nations. The book is a must for anyone who wants to avoid the hype of both the agrochemical companies who produce GM products and the antis. Highly recommended.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book on An Important Topic, January 8, 2005

By 

Patty Apostolides "Author" (Maryland, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Eat Your Genes: How Genetically Modified Food Is Entering Our Diet, Revised and Updated Edition (Paperback)

The author presents a lot of important and useful information on the field of genetic engineering, particularly to the risks involved in the planting and consumption of genetically modified crops. His text is very well written and well substantiated through many references.

I was very impressed to read the thoroughly researched topics such as ecological risks of using genetically modified crops, which includes discussion of the emergence of herbicide resistant crops and insecticide resistant crops. The ethical and moral issues were also covered. Also, the possible health risks, such as allergic reactions and antibiotic resistance from eating genetically modified foods were particularly relevant to me.

As a consumer, I found this book a very informative and excellent read. Bravo!!