Food Fray

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Food Fray is a 2009 non-fiction book by molecular biologist Lisa H. Weasel that details the story of genetically modified food in the United States. [1]

Reception

The book was reviewed by Miami Herald , [2] Midwest Book Review , [3] and Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries . [4] A Publishers Weekly review called the book "superficial and flat". [5]

A review by Publishers Weekly said that the book "skimps on the science...focusing instead on the legal, political and emotional aspects of the tussle between big business...and environmentalists...Her account is relatively flat and superficial, doing a workmanlike job of covering political issues but leaving readers short of what they need to evaluate GM."

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Genetically modified maize</span> Genetically modified crop

Genetically modified maize (corn) is a genetically modified crop. Specific maize strains have been genetically engineered to express agriculturally-desirable traits, including resistance to pests and to herbicides. Maize strains with both traits are now in use in multiple countries. GM maize has also caused controversy with respect to possible health effects, impact on other insects and impact on other plants via gene flow. One strain, called Starlink, was approved only for animal feed in the US but was found in food, leading to a series of recalls starting in 2000.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Genetic engineering</span> Manipulation of an organisms genome

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The regulation of genetic engineering varies widely by country. Countries such as the United States, Canada, Lebanon and Egypt use substantial equivalence as the starting point when assessing safety, while many countries such as those in the European Union, Brazil and China authorize GMO cultivation on a case-by-case basis. Many countries allow the import of GM food with authorization, but either do not allow its cultivation or have provisions for cultivation, but no GM products are yet produced. Most countries that do not allow for GMO cultivation do permit research. Most (85%) of the world's GMO crops are grown in the Americas. One of the key issues concerning regulators is whether GM products should be labeled. Labeling of GMO products in the marketplace is required in 64 countries. Labeling can be mandatory up to a threshold GM content level or voluntary. A study investigating voluntary labeling in South Africa found that 31% of products labeled as GMO-free had a GM content above 1.0%. In Canada and the USA labeling of GM food is voluntary, while in Europe all food or feed which contains greater than 0.9% of approved GMOs must be labelled.

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This article discusses topics relating to genetic engineering within Oceania. Currently New Zealand and Australia require labeling so consumers can exercise choice between foods that have genetically modified, conventional, or organic origins.

References

  1. "Food Fray: Inside the Controversy over Genetically Modified Food". publishersweekly.com. Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  2. Christine Thomas (January 4, 2009). "The tempest over genetically modified foods". Miami Herald. Retrieved May 5, 2012.
  3. "Food Fray". Midwest Book Review. 2009. Retrieved May 5, 2012.
  4. L. C. Davis (June 2009). "Food fray: inside the controversy over genetically modified food". Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries.
  5. "Food Fray: Inside the Controversy over Genetically Modified Food". Publishers Weekly. 2008.