I have been to several conferences and meetings this week where there has been a discussion on genetically modified (GM) foods. With the current food shortages and rising food prices there has been a focus on whether we in Europe in order to improve yields and efficiency should grow GM crops. Whenever I try to have a balanced discussion on GM foods, I find it almost impossible and because I am a food scientist people often ask me questions such as:
What is genetically modified food?
How do we know if we have eaten it, or meat from an animal that has eaten it?
Should food be labeled so that we can make the choice if we want to eat it or not?
Is it traceable in the supply chain? How is cross-contamination between GM and non GM prevented?
Who benefits most from the GM revolution?
What information should we trust? Who should we trust?
The GM debate is as much about fear, dread and trust i.e. perception as it is about science and risk probably more so. Consumers do not like being told what to eat they want to make an active choice when faced with these difficult questions. Tolstoy once said that “True science investigates and brings to human perception such truths and such knowledge as the people of a given time and society consider most important.” I believe he is right. So what do we as consumers consider is important with regard to food either individually or collectively – price, value, flavor, method of production?