GM Food - Seeds of Deception by Jeffrey Smith

[charrison]

They're picked green because they have to ripen while on the shelf wtf?

They are picked green because they are firm enough to shipped to bulk. They are typically gassed at the grocery store to make them turn red, even though they are still green on the inside. Nothing really wrong with process, but those red tomatoes in the store are usually just not ripe. Vine ripened tomatoes FTW!

 

[HGC]

Nice to see someone else post about this yet another Corporate abomination unleashed on the world. :thumbsup:

I agree totally, but let me add that it is a government abomination even more.

Without taxpayer subsidies of corn and soy we wouldn't be finding high fructose corn syrup and processed soy protein in nearly every food. We'd also have cheaper veggie prices, as Midwest farmers would find it more economic to grow diversified vegetable crops.

 

[HGC]

I call bullshit on your taste test.

I don't think that proves anything. You could set up a booth at a non-organic growers convention and get the same results in reverse. That was a psychological test/stunt.

I'm not emotionally invested in organic food. Just the opposite, since I try to buy non-organic to save money. Mostly, though, for decades, the difference in taste alone is enough for me to pick the organic version.

 

[HGC]

The supposedly "benefits" of organic foods to you are disputed below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhBKtjDtTVk&feature=related

I've never thought that organic foods necessarily have more A, B, C, protein, or other items on the short list of nutrients isolated by scientists, though there are some studies that show they do.

Do you know where all the cancer is coming from? I don't. Until I do, I'm using common sense to decide that eating food with pesticide residues over the course of a lifetime is a risk I'd like to minimize where I reasonably can.

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/08/science/08PEST.html?ex=1065240000&en=70dacc40e18ace2b&ei=5070

 

[HGC]

Watch and weep.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQ31Ljd9T_Y

I'm not weeping. I don't trust anything "organic" from China, and know that developing countries often abuse pesticides out of greed, ignorance, or economic hardship.

Common sense tells me to avoid it, just as it tells me that food that hasn't been sprayed with poison is better. I don't take guidance for all my actions from the religion of modern science. They change their precepts regularly as new discoveries are made.
__________________

 

[HGC]

More convincing to me than Penn & Teller's profanity laden infotainment is that fact that the organic folks in their bit all looked much healthier than the non-organic folks, especially Penn & Teller.

 

[Ancalagon44]

Its ironic that people who are against GM crops dont realize that every single mass produced crop grown today has had its evolution directed by man for the last few thousand years, from bananas to corn, so they arent natural at all. They, and in fact even domesticated animals, evolve a lot faster than we do due to shorter generations, so theres a good chance that none of them are compatible with our digestion.

In short, dont eat any food, ever again, because its all GM food, every last bit of it. Scientists just put the finishing touches on it to make it less susceptible to disease, require less chemicals (isnt that a good thing for people who love organic food?), grow in more conditions, and produce more food.

 

[blackangst1]

I've never thought that organic foods necessarily have more A, B, C, protein, or other items on the short list of nutrients isolated by scientists, though there are some studies that show they do.

Do you know where all the cancer is coming from? I don't. Until I do, I'm using common sense to decide that eating food with pesticide residues over the course of a lifetime is a risk I'd like to minimize where I reasonably can.

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/08/science/08PEST.html?ex=1065240000&en=70dacc40e18ace2b&ei=5070

:thumbsup:

 

[ShawnD1]

Do you know where all the cancer is coming from? I don't. Until I do, I'm using common sense to decide that eating food with pesticide residues over the course of a lifetime is a risk I'd like to minimize where I reasonably can.

You'd rather eat food with feces residue?

 

[Siddhartha]

If you are concerned about GM plant dna getting into your dna, why are you not worried about "non-GM" dna getting into your dna?

*BTW, humans have been genetically altering their food and non-food plants for centuries will continue to do so.

 

[Modelworks]

Wtf is wrong with hydroponics? Hydroponics will grow a better plant faster. They're picked green because they have to ripen while on the shelf wtf?

Good tasting vegetables are not about growing fast. Corporations like hydroponics because it allows them to easily grow large crops as fast as possible. Most vegetables grown in hydroponics are grown to target growth vs taste. When you grow something in soil the vegetable takes in a lot of minerals that are not needed for its growth, those add to the flavor of the vegetable. Without those trace minerals the end product is devoid of flavor and generally taste like water. If you have ever tasted lettuce grown in hydroponics vs lettuce grown in the dirt , the flavor is totally different.

Apples are another thing that are heavily influenced by location grown and when picked. Buy some apple juice and notice the country of origin for the juice. Juice from China will have a bitter flavor, Argentina is sweeter. Both happen to use the same variety apples , the difference is in the length of the growing season and when they have to be picked.

The same goes for tomatoes. The good species that have that wonderful flavor are not grown for retail sale because they have a few problems. They do not keep long after being picked, they are easily damaged in shipping, they are not as disease tolerant requiring more maintenance . The result is tomatoes in stores that have thick skins, hard interior flesh and very little flavor.

 

[Modelworks]

In short, dont eat any food, ever again, because its all GM food, every last bit of it. Scientists just put the finishing touches on it to make it less susceptible to disease, require less chemicals (isnt that a good thing for people who love organic food?), grow in more conditions, and produce more food.

It isn't the same thing. When I cross pollinate two species I am changing the species but I am still staying within the limits of what could happen in nature. When a scientist manipulates the actual genes they are doing things that nature most likely never would have allowed to occur. Most even comment that they are not sure how the genes they are changing even work. That is playing with fire, like poking something with a stick to see how it will react.

 

[evident]

the more natural the food you eat, the healthier you will be.

 

[nageov3t]

the more natural the food you eat, the healthier you will be.

are you implying that fruits and veggies and meats are healthier for you than frozen dinners?

 

[Siddhartha]

It isn't the same thing. When I cross pollinate two species I am changing the species but I am still staying within the limits of what could happen in nature. When a scientist manipulates the actual genes they are doing things that nature most likely never would have allowed to occur. Most even comment that they are not sure how the genes they are changing even work. That is playing with fire, like poking something with a stick to see how it will react.

How do you know what can happen in nature? What are you basing this post on?

 

[Amused]

It never ceases to amaze me how fearful of something people can become with absolutely NO valid proof of harm whatsoever.

It's almost as if they NEED something to be afraid of.

 

[daishi5]

How do you know what can happen in nature? What are you basing this post on?

I think the more important question, is why do we assume something that would happen in nature is good, and something that would not happen in nature is bad? I would understand the argument if I was hearing it from a deeply religious person. I.E. God controls nature, god is good, so natural stuff is good. But, for a logical basis, natural = good just seems naive to me.

 

[bfdd]

I've heard vegetarians taste quite different...

tbh she wasn't half bad how a chick, a white chick at that, eats a vegetarian diet and gets a booty like she did. i mean ... damn

 

[bfdd]

Good tasting vegetables are not about growing fast. Corporations like hydroponics because it allows them to easily grow large crops as fast as possible. Most vegetables grown in hydroponics are grown to target growth vs taste. When you grow something in soil the vegetable takes in a lot of minerals that are not needed for its growth, those add to the flavor of the vegetable. Without those trace minerals the end product is devoid of flavor and generally taste like water. If you have ever tasted lettuce grown in hydroponics vs lettuce grown in the dirt , the flavor is totally different.

Apples are another thing that are heavily influenced by location grown and when picked. Buy some apple juice and notice the country of origin for the juice. Juice from China will have a bitter flavor, Argentina is sweeter. Both happen to use the same variety apples , the difference is in the length of the growing season and when they have to be picked.

The same goes for tomatoes. The good species that have that wonderful flavor are not grown for retail sale because they have a few problems. They do not keep long after being picked, they are easily damaged in shipping, they are not as disease tolerant requiring more maintenance . The result is tomatoes in stores that have thick skins, hard interior flesh and very little flavor.

... those other minerals can be added into the hydroponic system, they can do whatever they want and change the taste however they want. also, i'm pretty sure it's the nitrogen that plays the biggest part in taste/texture. to much nitrogen can ruin it.

 

[ShawnD1]

... those other minerals can be added into the hydroponic system, they can do whatever they want and change the taste however they want. also, i'm pretty sure it's the nitrogen that plays the biggest part in taste/texture. to much nitrogen can ruin it.

I guess that would make sense. Nitrogen is what adds that bitter taste to drugs like caffeine, nicotine, cocaine, etc. I can see the Chinese using too much fertilizer and getting a bunch of apples that taste like shit.

 

[blackangst1]

I guess that would make sense. Nitrogen is what adds that bitter taste to drugs like caffeine, nicotine, cocaine, etc. I can see the Chinese using too much fertilizer and getting a bunch of apples that taste like shit.

lolwut?

Nitrogen is used to delay oxidation (in regards to food)

 

[bfdd]

I guess that would make sense. Nitrogen is what adds that bitter taste to drugs like caffeine, nicotine, cocaine, etc. I can see the Chinese using too much fertilizer and getting a bunch of apples that taste like shit.

I've been reading a lot on hydroponics, mostly for cannabis(since I can grow legally), and it's treated almost exactly like tomatoes. Any strategy that would work for tomatoes will work for cannabis for the most part and most people agree flushing with little to no nitrogen before harvesting to enhance taste because to much nitrogen ruins the taste and makes it "harsh." To much nitrogen will do the same thing to tomatoes and I'm willing to bet any other fruiting plant.

 

[bfdd]

lolwut?

Nitrogen is used to delay oxidation (in regards to food)

That's fine, to much nitrogen will make the fruit taste worse. It will also prevent it from ripening properly. Do a little google search on it.

 

[JSt0rm]

I want everyone to do this simple test (you will enjoy half of it).

Go down to the farmers market and ask when the strawberries will be in season (like right now). Get a basket of organic strawberries just in season now go to the store and buy the "other" strawberries at the local bigbox food complex.

Now eat a bigbox strawberry... Now eat a organic strawberry.

 

[JSt0rm]

or...

Go to the bigbox store and buy button mushrooms

now go to a specialty shop and buy hen of the wood mushrooms.

Get 2 pans and put a couple tablespoons of butter on low!(must be low) heat. Wait for the butter to brown. You will smell a nutty scent coming off of it and it will begin to look golden. Raise the heat to midhigh. Take the hen of the wood mushroom and put them in one pan with some salt. Take the button mushroom and put them in the other pan with some salt.

Cook the mushrooms until they release their mosture and then soak it back u again. You will see the mushrooms release some liquid and then it will evap and be soaked back up by the mushroom. Let them slightly brown and become slightly crisp. Remove from heat and put on a plate.

Taste the button mushroom. Taste the hen of the wood mushroom.