Yes, well done rache, I think there's a media watch article in this don't you? About how claims can be repeated over and over again without reference to the original source? That's the modus operandi of many a sloppy journalist and also Greenpeace as well as Jeffery Smith. Repetition does not mean that that the information is correct, it merely means that the journalists are not really earning their money. But are these websites run by journalists? Probably not real ones.

Look for the source. That's what determines the truth. Find it yourself. If it contradicts what I have said previously, SHOW ME. I will believe it if it's REAL.

We continue to test all sorts of foods for allergies or pathogens that are already in the food chain. The reason we continue to test GM foods is because many haven't been approved for use yet. "Keep testing" is the mantra, yet you say, "why do they keep testing?". Circular argument.

Get over it, monitoring of GM crops on public health will continue, just monitoring of shellfish and mycotoxins in grains will continue. While GM generally doesn't pose a threat, the perception of threat is enough to continue testing. Testing and checking for any public threats I am very much in favour of, from any source, but this campaign of deception against a benign technology must stop.

Precautions have been taken, the proposed threat has not been realised (and this argument has been going on for more than 10 years). Relax. Take a deep breath. It's being looked after. Your children are not in danger from this (they are however in danger from many other things).

Oops,
Forget to add this bit -
http://www.biotech-info.net/hypersensitivity.html

It's a bit dated now and seemed to suggest no link at the time but it's interesting to see a possible correlation between increased GE food consumption and infant hypersensitivy since that time and how a link was being considered four years ago.
Like I said - a coincidence.

Do you read the links you post rache?

To quote from the link you posted:
>>CONCLUSIONS
In general, it seems that the present discussion on GM food safety, especially in the field of hypersensitivity reactions does not so much point towards a significantly increased safety problem of GM foods compared with conventional foods, but it reflects increased regulatory demands as well as perceived needs for a higher safety level. Conventional foods often have not been subject of hypersensitivity assessment. Public awareness as well as genuine scientific considerations in the field of GM foods has resulted in general guidelines being elaborated for allergenicity assessment of such foods. These internationally agreed guidelines are specifically important for foods which are traded globally.

*Standards established for the assessment of GM foods may then turn out to be a paragon for the testing of conventional foods. *(emphasis added)

Lets play the correlation game shall we?
What has also been increasing in the last few years?
Organic food production for one:

Up to 17-20% annual growth, compared to 2-3% annual growth for conventional produce.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6638417/

Is it a coincidence that allergy rates and asthma rates have increased over the same time? Possibly, but I am beginning to see a dark pattern here.

The corporate side of this argument seems to have floated off on page 1.

The science, for either side, is not proven, nor can it be. There simply isn't enough evidence. Give it another 10 years (and totally independent research by non-affiliated scientists) and we might see some evidence. Of course this won't happen - Monsanto will see to that.

Remember smoking was once considered good for you, especially if you were pregnant, because it helped you to lose weight post-pregnancy. Importation of cane toads into this country was also considered a great idea at the time because the scientists hadn't done their homework.

What it comes down to is this: Does anyone REALLY want to be told what they can and can't eat? What they can and can't plant in their fields - by a corporate Hitler like Monsanto? They want to rule the world's stomach. Are you happy with a publicly listed company deciding what we put in our mouths every day, or on our backs? Where does CHOICE come into this argument?

Are we really all that stupid?

New Scientist has just carried an article regarding the transfer of genes from the carpet snake to a gerbil that was discovered recently.

The vector for this was a virus that was capable of infecting both species, and transfered the material. They are now finding many other examples of this.

The fact that this happenned long before GM existed, suggests that this is probably one of the natural processes spurring evolution over the millenia.

The claim by wobbles that transference of genetic material between species is not natural is without foundation. GM is to natural selection as farming is to hunter gathering.

Bugsy:
They also said that Saddam Hussein had Weapons of Mass Destruction,....in fact they will say anything at all to justify the opportunity to make that extra almighty dollar!

Maybe I could be excused for thinking that some of supporters of GM cropping, who contribute to this thread, could be shareholders in companies such as Monsanto and the like,.....if one can judge by the rabid responses!

I maintain that where there is just the tiniest smidgin of a doubt, it is better to be safe now, than very, very sorry at a later date!

Have a look for example at the quality in taste and longevity in the "force grown" fruit and vegetables! The Tomato is a classic example,.....in the Bundaberg area the crops are planted and harvested in a mere two or three weeks. The resulting product, (at least the ones available to the consumer in the same area!) are a tasteless, weak coloured and characterless fruit, which if not used within a couple of days simply dissolve into a slimy, stinking mess!..(a lot of cattle producers feed their stock on the rejected produce, simply because they get the stuff cheap and even free!)....what effect will this have on these cattle in the near future?

Do we really need this sort of Genetic bastardization simply to make an extra dollar?