Not all of the public have the view that "people do not want its[the department of environment] food"6, there are also some neutral feelings about GM foods that adopt the 'if you can't beat 'em, join 'em' approach as they realize that they have "probably been eating them for years"7, which is true because sources have shown that "It is very likely that you have eaten food with at least traces of GM ingredients"8.
Clearly the majority is against the widespread production and introduction of GM foods into our society. Friends of the earth, (bearing in mind their biased view on the GM debate) believe that "It seems that the only people not convinced by the arguments against GM food are the government and the GM food industry themselves"9.
Aside from the hype from Biased environmental companies there are still genuine reasons for opposing GM foods. Two of the main fears of GM food technology are "it will make people ill and…it will damage the earth's fragile eco-system…the scientific evidence on these two issues is inconclusive"10.
Scientists are now able to produce crops that are "herbicide tolerant…insect resistant…virus resistant"16. This is a benefit as it enables the farmer to spray herbicide over crops without the important crops being damaged. The public have fears against this because it is thought that the "herbicide-resistant crops will 'sterilise' fields leaving them empty of plants for birds and insects to feed on"18.
Although the public approve of GM sources to be used in medicine, as a survey shows that "74% of parents in England would let their child undergo gene therapy"1, the public still don't want to eat it.
2. The role of the media in the GM debate
The public seem to be swayed by television, radio and newspaper articles about GM crops. "Before spring 1999 there were very few media articles about GM"1. There now seems to be an article in every other newspaper about it. The newspapers can now 'name and shame' test site of GM crops. This could lead Greenpeace activists to destroy the sites like 26 July 1999 when 28 people made a "dawn raid on a six-acre GM maize crop"11. Media can be to blame for the hype surrounding GM crops. This is because ethics rather than facts were emphasised as main points in many articles. The media plays a key role in every aspect of the GM debate. Some papers perceive things in different ways. An example of this is a Telegraph headline reads "Mr. Blair says "I eat GM food and it is safe""1, whilst the mirror reports on the same story reads "Fury as the Prime Monster says "I eat Frankenstein food and it is safe""1.
The government use the media to portray their messages across the nation. These include reassurances that GM is good and to "keep an open mind…It[GM] has the potential to deliver real benefits to people."12.
3. Scientific findings and conclusions about GM foods and companies that are pro-GM
"There are 3 government departments and 7 advisory committees involved…the threat to birds was not picked up by any of them"13. The GM companies have backing from the government. The government are currently conducting trials on various farms around the countries. This is good because "we need more research, not less"14 and "If we are not allowed to do experimental trials on GM crops, we shall never know the bad things or good things about them"14.
The scientific findings of GM foods seem to be somewhat inconclusive. "Scientists do not know all the answers and should not claim to."14. Scientist have found "no current evidence to suggest that the GM technologies used to produce food are inherently harmful"15. Analysts have come up with possible health effects towards humans these hazards include "the inserted gene may…produce an allergic reaction…. It may alter the way genes express themselves…. Consumption…may alter the balance of existing micro-organisms in the human gut"19.
Summary
There are two extreme views about GM crops. The positive view taken by the government and the GM companies. There is also the stronger negative view held by the media, the public and environmental awareness companies.
Can the modified foods produce solutions to hunger, or are the GM companies just trying to make even more money? We will never know.
The main fact is that GM foods are not wanted in this society, but we don't have much choice as we are already eating the modified Soya and maize, this is not helped by poor labelling of products.
My view remains fairly neutral, that there is no point fussing about the choice of our foods in the supermarkets and to think about others that are less fortunate than ourselves. The promises made by the super rich GM companies to try and combat this problem don't seem to be working so they should just let nature do its thing. We have survived until now without GM products so there is no great need for them.
The public don't have a great choice on this subject, even if it is against their morals and principles. It is the people in power who make the decisions.
References
1).Ethics in biotechnology, 1. What is ethics?, www.gre.ac.uk/~ws02/GM_foods/ethnic.html
2).A mirror newspaper headline adapted from 'Ethics in biotechnology' www.gre.ac.uk/~ws02/GM_foods/ethnic.html
3).An interviewee who wished not to be named, BBC online-GM foods, what people think, 8th October 1999.
4).Abbie Redland, BBC online-GM foods, what people think, 8th October 1999.
5).Andrew Parker BBC online-GM foods, what people think, 8th October 1999.
6).'GM food protests', Thursday September 21 2000 the guardian newspaper
7).George, BBC online-GM foods, what people think, 8th October 1999.
8).Am I eating GM foods? BBC online-GM foods, 8th October 1999.
9). What can you do? www.foe.co.uk/food_and_biotechnology/gm_food/
10). Is GM food harmful? BBC online-GM foods, 8th October 1999.
11). 'GM food protests' Thursday September 21, 2000 the guardian newspaper
12). Message from the ministers -
www.gm-info.gov.uk/1999/message.htm - official government GM website.
13). 'Government failure' - national campaigns/ briefings - www.foe.co.uk
14). 'They were wrong', Sunday September 24, 2000 the guardian newspaper.
15). Paragraph 7, 'Health implications of genetically modified foods' Professor Liam Donaldson
and Sir Robert May, May 1999
16). Paragraph 8, uses of Genetic modification 'Health implications of genetically modified foods' Professor Liam Donaldson and Sir Robert May, May 1999
17). Paragraph 11, uses of Genetic modification 'Health implications of genetically modified foods' Professor Liam Donaldson and Sir Robert May, May 1999
18). 'Real food' - www.foe.co.uk/food_and_biotechnology/gm_food/
19). Paragraph 26, 'Health implications of genetically modified foods' Professor Liam Donaldson and Sir Robert May, May 1999.
