Genetically Engineered Food

I just heard that the marketing of genetically engineered fruits, vegetables and grains has been approved, and that these foods will be released without testing. Frankly, I am outraged and frightened.

How can it be that drugs that may help a relatively few people who are already gravely ill (such as with AIDS and cancer medications) can take years to gain approval, whereas foods that could possibly adversely affect the health of millions of healthy people are released without proper testing? We do not know the consequences to the organisms being genetically altered, nor do we know the effects upon the recipients of the genetically altered foods.

Are people going to be given any choice? Are the foods going to be clearly labeled? Why the hurry to release these unnatural and possibly unsafe products? Who will profit from the rushed release of these minimally tested products? Certainly not the majority of the citizens.

I am a registered dietitian and a biology professor and am therefore concerned about this issue from both a personal and professional standpoint.

ALICE KUBERNICK-SHAPIRO

Seal Beach