I have seen an odd trend of otherwise sensible skeptics strongly advocating that GMO foods should not be labeled. I find this really bizarre.
I do have to state that I am not against GMOs and that I am not advocating health claims made by "organic" foods. I just think that one should not deal with a public relations issue by hiding information from consumers.
I spend a lot of time in Europe, where GMOs are labeled and have been labeled since 1997. The food in European grocery stores is of significantly higher quality and is cheaper than in the US. When I hear people scream about how labeling is impossible and how it would make food much more expensive, I know that these assertions are simply false. Labeling does not eliminate GMOs either, as Europe grows and uses plenty of GMOs.
I am all for skeptics busting bogus claims by organic growers and I am all for debunking unfounded claims about exaggerated claims about the dangers of GMOs. I think that Skeptics cross the line from debunking claims to endorsing a commercial product when they begin advocating hiding information from the public "for their own good" when other nations can and do label GMOs without apparent harm to the farmers or the public.
The non-labeling of GMOs appears to be a money saving step for some companies, but does not to the US public any real good. I can see why companies don't want to spend the time and money required to do the labeling, but Skeptics should not be carrying their water.
I think this boils down to tribalism. We see people making outlandish claims about GMOs, and we side with the people they are bashing. That is not a good reason for the skeptical community to support an industry position on a commercial product, in my opinion.
I do have to state that I am not against GMOs and that I am not advocating health claims made by "organic" foods. I just think that one should not deal with a public relations issue by hiding information from consumers.
I spend a lot of time in Europe, where GMOs are labeled and have been labeled since 1997. The food in European grocery stores is of significantly higher quality and is cheaper than in the US. When I hear people scream about how labeling is impossible and how it would make food much more expensive, I know that these assertions are simply false. Labeling does not eliminate GMOs either, as Europe grows and uses plenty of GMOs.
I am all for skeptics busting bogus claims by organic growers and I am all for debunking unfounded claims about exaggerated claims about the dangers of GMOs. I think that Skeptics cross the line from debunking claims to endorsing a commercial product when they begin advocating hiding information from the public "for their own good" when other nations can and do label GMOs without apparent harm to the farmers or the public.
The non-labeling of GMOs appears to be a money saving step for some companies, but does not to the US public any real good. I can see why companies don't want to spend the time and money required to do the labeling, but Skeptics should not be carrying their water.
I think this boils down to tribalism. We see people making outlandish claims about GMOs, and we side with the people they are bashing. That is not a good reason for the skeptical community to support an industry position on a commercial product, in my opinion.
via International Skeptics Forum http://ift.tt/1HvUWcA
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