By Siobhan Byrne
Frankenfoods. This frightful word immediately conjures images of supernatural produce and grains that have been genetically altered by sinister scientists who want to test their diabolical experiment on unsuspecting consumers.
An effective word from an effective campaign that wants to either stop the production of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) or at least label them as such in the supermarket.
The Herb and Spice Shop on Bank Street started a petition two weeks ago, organized by the Canadian Health Food Association, to persuade companies to label their GMOs.
The store accumulated more than 350 signatures in the first week.
Today, according to Health Canada, there are 42 GMOs approved for use in Canada. Such foods come from crops like corn, canola, potato, tomato, squash, soybean, flax and cottonseed.
Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency say these crops, genetically altered to be more resistant to things like insects, are safe. In this sense, they say they are “genetically-enhanced” as opposed to “genetically-altered.”
David and Susan Rose, owners of the Bank Street Herb and Spice Shop, say it is too soon to tell if the foods are safe.
Companies are already labelling GMOs in the UK so why don’t they see fit to label them here?
Granted, labelling all GMOs would be a daunting task, especially when we’re talking about things like corn and soya found in anything from breads to “healthy” spreads.
However, last month the Canadian Council of Grocery Distributors and the Canadian General Standards Board agreed to develop standards for voluntary labelling.
Obviously there is some way of determining what foods are genetically engineered and what foods are not.
If the more than 350 Centretown residents who support labelling, so far, are any indication of what the average Canadian wants, then labelling should be mandatory.
Even if our fears of Frankenfoods are unfounded, it does not mean they are unwarranted.
Just because health officials say GMOs are safe, doesn’t mean we should have to buy them — if that’s our prerogative.
If those in the agricultural biz think labelling will make GMOs less desirable than organic food — then that should tell them something. You are what you eat — at least that’s what our parents told us — and I don’t want to be a genetically-altered vegetable.