Crosby, Donald G. (author), Davis, Donald E. (author), Fries, George F. (author), Newton, Michael (author), and Osweiler, Gary D. (author)
Format:
Report
Publication Date:
1979-12
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 191 Document Number: D03034
Notes:
Report No. 81 published by the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST), Ames, Iowa. 18 pages., Response from CAST to the Public Broadcasting System's NOVA program, "A Plague on Our Children," televised nationwide on October 2, 1979.
Online from publication. 2 pages., Identification of produce items cited as problematic and acceptable by the Environmental Working Group. Article indicates that more than 99 percent of produce samples tested for these reports have residue levels that are compliant with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards (which EWG considers insufficient).
5 pages., Author concludes that "genetic information is easy to portray as a new and scary technology, but fearmongering is largely based on misinformation, a misunderstanding of evolution and our place in the natural world, and vague fears of contamination. In reality, GMO safety testing is extensive and has not uncovered any safety concerns for current GMOs. There are other issues with GMOs that are worth discussing, but fears of adverse health effects are not legitimate." Cites a review of research ty the European Commission in 2010: "The main conclusion to be drawn from the efforts of more than 130 research projects, covering a period of more than 25 years of research and involving more than 500 independent research groups, is that biotechnology, and in particular GMOs, are not per se more risky than e.g. conventional plant breeding technologies."
