Cognitive dissonance can be a painful experience. All too often we hear our perfectly healthy friends and family complain about the (demonstrably false) health risks of MSG or aspartame, or gluten sensitivity in non-coeliacs.
Despite a total lack of conclusive evidence, our social media profiles are overburdened with claims that neonicotinoids are causing bee colony collapse. We guzzle down fish oil pills (with little effect) and ignore the consequences to marine life.
When did we learn to distrust the experts? How did we come to resort to labelling supporters of polemic issues as shills for a nebulous corporate entity?
The choices made by our elected representatives should reflect the opinion of pundits, not the layman scientist.
Murray Rankin, our local NDP MP, supports the mandatory labelling of genetically modified foods despite overwhelming evidence that there is no substantive difference between natural crops and those developed by modern biotechnological methods.
Ask doctors (WHO, AMA, RSM), scientific pundits (AAAS, ASM), food scientists (FDA), or any other reputable source: there are no health risks or environmental impacts exclusive to GM cultivars. GMOs reduce pesticide use and promote eco-friendly farming methods.
Monsanto should be famous for their charitable efforts worldwide while big organic companies consistently misinform the public about the evidence.
Want to help the environment? Start labelling foods based on something that matters: pesticide and fertilizer composition/dosage; or related carbon emissions.
Richard Liam Nixon
Oak Bay
