USA Today editorial: Doubting safety of GMOs is a “kooky notion”

Americans love conspiracy theories: The 1969 moon landing actually occurred on a Hollywood set. Fluoride in drinking water was a communist plot. Paul McCartney is dead. Elvis is alive.

Most of these kooky notions are harmless, but some are not, especially when people ignore overwhelming scientific consensus in favor of discredited theories or simple fear-mongering. For example, increasing numbers of parents refuse to vaccinate their kids, which opens the door for renewed outbreaks of dangerous diseases. Some politicians insist that human-caused climate change is a hoax, which impedes efforts to deal with the threat.

And now, despite overwhelming scientific evidence to the contrary, most Americans believe that food altered by genetically modified organisms — GMOs — is harmful. Based on the misinformation, companies are beginning to ban food that contains GMOs.

Burrito chain Chipotle is the latest, following General Mills’ decision to take GMO ingredients out of plain Cheerios last year. The companies say they’re doing the right thing for consumers. What they’re really doing is validating ignorance and hysteria.

Science is losing the battle by a shocking margin. A recent Pew survey found that although 88 percent of scientists say GMO foods are safe, only 37 percent of Americans do.

Much of this is a result of anti-GMO crusaders’ exploitation of mistrust about how foods are genetically modified.

The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion and analysis. Read full, original post: GMO food bans pander to ignorance: Our view

 

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