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In reply to the discussion: Remember tobacco? A product once "scientifically" proven to be harmless [View all]pnwmom
(110,346 posts)95. I did. And there is also this, from the LA Times:
http://articles.latimes.com/2011/feb/13/opinion/la-oe-guriansherman-seeds-20110213
No seeds, no independent research
Companies that genetically engineer crops have a lock on what we know about their safety and benefits.
Soybeans, corn, cotton and canola -- most of the acres planted in these crops in the United States are genetically altered. "Transgenic" seeds reduce the use of some insecticides. But herbicide use is higher, and respected experts argue that some genetically engineered crops may also pose serious health and environmental risks. The benefits of genetically engineered crops may be overstated.
We don't have the complete picture. That's no accident. Multibillion-dollar agricultural corporations, including Monsanto and Syngenta, have restricted independent research on their genetically engineered crops. They have often refused to provide independent scientists with seeds, or they've set restrictive conditions that severely limit research options.
This is legal. Under U.S. law, genetically engineered crops are patentable inventions. Companies have broad power over the use of any patented product, including who can study it and how.
Agricultural companies defend their stonewalling by saying that unrestricted research could make them vulnerable to lawsuits if an experiment somehow leads to harm, or that it could give competitors unfair insight into their products. But it's likely that the companies fear something else as well: An experiment could reveal that a genetically engineered product is hazardous or doesn't perform as promised.
No seeds, no independent research
Companies that genetically engineer crops have a lock on what we know about their safety and benefits.
Soybeans, corn, cotton and canola -- most of the acres planted in these crops in the United States are genetically altered. "Transgenic" seeds reduce the use of some insecticides. But herbicide use is higher, and respected experts argue that some genetically engineered crops may also pose serious health and environmental risks. The benefits of genetically engineered crops may be overstated.
We don't have the complete picture. That's no accident. Multibillion-dollar agricultural corporations, including Monsanto and Syngenta, have restricted independent research on their genetically engineered crops. They have often refused to provide independent scientists with seeds, or they've set restrictive conditions that severely limit research options.
This is legal. Under U.S. law, genetically engineered crops are patentable inventions. Companies have broad power over the use of any patented product, including who can study it and how.
Agricultural companies defend their stonewalling by saying that unrestricted research could make them vulnerable to lawsuits if an experiment somehow leads to harm, or that it could give competitors unfair insight into their products. But it's likely that the companies fear something else as well: An experiment could reveal that a genetically engineered product is hazardous or doesn't perform as promised.
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Remember tobacco? A product once "scientifically" proven to be harmless [View all]
pnwmom
Mar 2015
OP
The difference between a scientific study and a "scientific" study is not obvious to some
hobbit709
Mar 2015
#5
My question, though, was whether there was an actual scientific study that showed tobacco was safe.
geek tragedy
Mar 2015
#11
Which makes a good case for consumers being aware of what is and isn't junk science
Major Nikon
Mar 2015
#61
The government should regulate known health risks when the industry does not
Major Nikon
Mar 2015
#63
So you think what happened almost 100 years ago is just as applicable today?
Major Nikon
Mar 2015
#68
Naturally we would all be better off living in trees and throwing shit at each other
Major Nikon
Mar 2015
#93
Did giving women over 50 mare piss? Who doesn't want breast cancer over hot flashes!
KittyWampus
Mar 2015
#22
"A product once "scientifically" proven to be harmless" + "I don't know."
Warren Stupidity
Mar 2015
#102
what about Premarin? Nothing like giving women breast cancer to treat menopause.
KittyWampus
Mar 2015
#20
Misinformation by Gov't somehow seems less nefarious when compared to Corporate greed
Sheepshank
Mar 2015
#76
Evil Doktor Reagan helped shut down ''Socialized Medicine'' then JFK got shot.
Octafish
Mar 2015
#30
And what a life! He made 'Liberal' into a bad word transformed 'Racist' into 'Conservative.'
Octafish
Mar 2015
#34
Every time I had an earache, my grandpa would blow cigarette smoke in my ear.
ScreamingMeemie
Mar 2015
#16
The problem with tobacco is not so much lung cancer as copd and other respiratory issues
uppityperson
Mar 2015
#18
Bill Clinton's Justice department filed racketeering charges against Big Tobacco.
pnwmom
Mar 2015
#51
It was market-driven "science" that supported the case. Just like today's market-
ND-Dem
Mar 2015
#42
We can not only talk about giving cancer causing premarin to menopausal women to illustrate
KittyWampus
Mar 2015
#24
The ultimate example for the necessity of government oversight and regulation'
yallerdawg
Mar 2015
#28
To be fair, it was hard for tobacco company executives to understand scientists
tclambert
Mar 2015
#54
Thanks for making my point, once we found out it was dangerous we started......
Logical
Mar 2015
#64
I know it isn't static. The GMO producers want to convince us that it is static --
pnwmom
Mar 2015
#67
So somehow something that was known 100 years ago compares to something that isn't known today?
Major Nikon
Mar 2015
#69
Not true. Over 150 universities have blanket agreements with patent holders
Major Nikon
Mar 2015
#87
Then why were those 24 corn scientists protesting, according to Scientific American?
pnwmom
Mar 2015
#94
You'd think science WAS static if you looked at the posts of some GMO labeling detractors.
Gormy Cuss
Mar 2015
#78