In his latest series of columns about sustainable food and food politics, author Mark Bittman is challenging the notion that GMO foods should not be labeled as such because they are no different from regular food.

Recently, the US Department of Agriculture has approved several GMOs, including alfalfa, corn and sugar beets. And it may not be long before steroid fish, otherwise known as genetically modified salmon, hits the stores too.

“If you want to avoid sugar, aspartame, trans-fats, MSG, or just about anything else, you read the label,” Bittman writes. “If you want to avoid G.M.O.’s — genetically modified organisms — you’re out of luck. They’re not listed. You could, until now, simply buy organic foods, which by law can’t contain more than 5 percent G.M.O.’s. Now, however, even that may not work.”

There isn’t much data to show GMOs have done the two things many scientists fear could happen–produce allergic reactions or transfer antibiotic resistant properties to humans.

But there haven’t been enough studies to track this either.

Bits of data have shown GMO foods to be associated with some medical maladies in rodents, such as organ damage from Monsanto’s GM corn and reproductive cycle changes with GM soy milk.

Bittman cites a poll that showed 87% of people want GM products labeled.

More at New York Times.

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