Subject: Europe To Reject Frankenfood?

From: +@+.+ (G*rd*n)
Date: 7 Dec 1996 11:52:38 -0500

Last night, NPR reported that the three major British
parties were united in opposition to the expected
introduction of genetically altered food -- sometimes
"Frankenstein foods" or "Frankenfood" for short.  It
appears that the British government will resist importation
of a version of corn (maize) which happens to contain a gene
which produces resistance to antibiotics.  NPR's reporter
expected the European Union to follow Britain's lead.

The main -- and quite reasonable -- complaint is that the
long-term distribution of an anti-antibiotic gene could
have unexpected and destructive consequences.  The British
seem quite aware that agribusiness is uninterested in long-
term consequences as long as they can get short-term
profits.

It's interesting that in the United States and Canada,
genetically altered, as well as irradiated or otherwise
modified food, can be sold without any indication of its
status.  In fact, in some jurisdictions, attempts were
made to _prohibit_ labeling indicating such alteration
or the lack of it.

Probably, when American agribusiness and chemical
concerns were out buying legislators and government
officials in the U.S. and Canada, they forgot to send
anybody to Europe.  Watch for this oversight to be fixed
in the near future.
-- 
   }"{    G*rd*n   }"{  gcf @ panix.com  }"{