Customer Reviews

Genetically Engineered Food: Changing the Nature of Nature

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As a writer and researcher, I ran across this book doingbackground for The Magic Bean, a chapter on soy ( ).P>The importanceof Teitel and Wilson's book is that in a very simple, readable fashion, they have presented the main problematic issues with GM, including: - its inherent unpredictability - the assault on the biodiversity of nature - irrevocable disruption of evolution - the patenting of seeds and life forms by the agri-giants - the sweetheart relationship between the FDA and the food giants: why GM foods aren't labeled - the merging of the food and chemical industries - the global oppression of the single farmer

Except for a few lapses into passe' early-90s rabid feminist rhetoric, the book could have been a pivotal work. It still may be employed as a primer for the non-scientific layman who is just beginning his research on the topic of genetic modification, and who has some suspicions that everything isn't quite so safe as Monsanto's PR machine would lead us all to believe.

The book is well researched, although the footnoting method is most inconvenient. I was fascinated by the sources that describe the current state laws regarding what may or may not be said in written or spoken media about food. In many states it is a crime to criticize food products! It would cost millions in court costs to challenge these blatantly unconstitutional state laws, rammed through legislatures by the agri-giants. The result is a de facto negation of the First Amendment. What else is new, huh?

If the reader has any interest in GM, this book is a good jumping-off point. END

I first heard about the issue of genetically modified (GMO) food a few years ago when the protest movement against it began in Great Britain and then spread to the rest of Europe. However, I did not know the issues involved...

After reading this book, I think I have a better grasp on the problems with GMO foods as contrasted to traditional food. The most shocking assertion I found in the book is that GMO foods do not offer any benefits (whether it be higher yields, higher nutritional value etc...). I have not done enough research to verify this either way but if true that would be quite shocking.

Some of the interesting things I learned in the book:

- GMO science is quite imprecise. Researchers are often not sure if the insertion of foreign genes into a host (e.g. a plant) will have the predicted results or not.

- The immense size of some GMO companies, notably the American firm Monsanto. (To give some perspective: Microsoft is to the software industry as Monsanto is to the GMO industry)

One of the most pressing concerns for me was the commercialization of agriculture. For example, Monsanto spent $8 billion US in the first half of 1998 buying out seed companies (a few companies may end up owning patents to all the seeds in the world if this is left unchecked). The new trend of patenting seeds is also creating a dependency on the part of the farmers. Prior to GMO, farmers would save the seeds from their better crops and plant those next years. GMO companies, through contracts and other legal instruments, now insure that farmers buy from them EVERY year and they penalize the farmers if they attempt to save seeds. The whole concept of OWNING plants and organisms was very disturbing (it was interesting to note that a little known US Supreme Court decision Diamond v. Chakrabarty 1980 set a precedent in patenting life)

There was also some discussion of whether GMO foods should be labeled as such (the authors argue that GMO foods should be labeled). Of course, this is done in Western Europe, so there is no question of whether this is possible. GMO companies are vigorously fighting this, fearing that the public will immediately stop buying their products.

The main content of the book consisted of documenting various cases where GMO foods have caused problems of some sort or another. There was an interesting point made on how much of an influence GMO companies have on the Food and Drug Administration in the US. There was also an introductory section on genetic engineering, so the beginner will not get lost.

The authors offered a personal strategy whereby one can try to publicize the issue, find alternatives to buying and eating GMO foods and so on. The authors are clearly of the view that GMO foods are, at best, a strange unknown and, at worst, a foolish risk.

I took off a star off because the writing could have been better and the authors made their agenda a little too obvious. It would have improved the book if they had included and responded to some of the pro-GMO counter-arguments.

This is a well written book that provides the facts about modern genetically modified foods such as corn and soy and explores the different avenues by which these foods can be harmful to us as well as other animals.

The book does not tell you what you should do, but it really does not have too because the evidence the authors provide is so compelling, that anyone who reads this book will think twice about their next purchase at the store.

The book also explores the nature by which large corporations such as Novartis and Monsanto are able to saturate the market with their products before ample (or any kind of) testing is performed. Monsanto is also on the path to a closed loop business whereby they sell the farmers the GMO seeds which in turn require the pesticide (or other chemical) also manufactured by saiid company and the farmer must also pay a technology fee for using the seed!

A must read!

As a non-scientist I was able to read and understand the technology of genetically engineered foods (to my limited college student abilities).It made me think of everything that i put into my grocery basket. Indespensible information at your fingetips.

The authors have succeeded in putting forward a well-researched and well-argued overview of genetically modified food which the layman can understand. It deals not just with the science, but with the moral, ethical and political debate. With one of the agri-giants reputed to be developing a courgette with a human conscience, this book examines the far reaching implications of genetic engineering.

Did you know that there are tomatoes on the market right now that have been engineered to contain the genes of arctic fish? Know anyone with a fish allergy? Or that the proliferation or GM foods threatens the existence of "organic" foods and your right to choose? Cross-pollenation and genetic pollution of soil threaten the health of you, your family and our environment. This slim volume is a fascinating (if horrifying) read and contains a comprehensive and realistic list of things you can DO ABOUT IT, in your kitchen, in your neighborhood and in your country. I'm buying copies for several friends.

As consumers, we need to say that we WILL NOT STAND for this!

Genetically Engineered Food: Changing the Nature of Nature-- What You Need to Know to Protect Yourself, Your Family, and Our Planet, 2nd ed.
By Martin Teitel, Ph.D., and Kimberly A. Wilson (Park Street Press, 2001, ISBN 0-89281-948-0)

Never before have we lived in a world where it has become so important for all of us to be informed. Genetic engineering affects every one of us in dangerous and unknown ways. Altering the genetics of the world we live in and consume even has spiritual implications. Consumers do not want genetically engineered products but thanks to our agencies that are supposed to look out for us these products are unlabeled in most cases. You can find most everything you need to know about genetically altered foods in this book. It's time for a moratorium on their production, so get involved by getting informed.

Rahasya Poe, Lotus Guide Magazine and Author of "To Believe Or Not To Believe: The Social & Neurological Consequences of Belief Systems"

This book is garbage. Tell me of one documented case of human ill-effects from GMO's and maybe I will sway. Recently the Zambian gov't turned down 18000 tons of emergency grain from the US because it was GM. People died of starvation as a result. At least take the time to get the other side of the story before taking this book as the gospel truth. I respect Nader for alot of the things he has done. This book is certainly not on that list.