Genetics in Food: Changing Mother Nature

Next time you're picking up some groceries at your favorite supermarket, take a look around. Most likely, there are many food products in the aisles that somehow involve genetic modification, or GM...and you're probably eating them, too. Is this "frankenfood" full of unknown dangers? Or is it better food, with great nutritional and economic benefits? This fine news magazine, originally produced and broadcast by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (thus a caveat: the statistics and laws presented may differ in America), presents both sides of the debate over genetic modification, which is not your everyday hybridizing manipulation, but rather involves cross-breeding between different species. Detractors claim that GM foods make consumers the "[unwitting] part of a massive experiment," with the supposed benefits infinitesimal compared to potential harm. Supporters say GM is simply a fine tuning of nature, providing us with hardier and more abundant crops, both an economic boon to first world countries, and a question of survival for the hungry third world. Although bioethics can be a sticky subject, with advances sometimes outpacing the dialogue, this program's concise and balanced script (compromises are also discussed, such as including mandatory labeling of GM food) offers a good introduction to the issue. Recommended, especially for those without Food for Thought (VL-3/00). Aud: J, H, P. (E. Gieschen)