The nutrition police are at it again. They demand that food products that use
genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in their processing inform us of this on
the product’s label. They argue, not
only that consumers have a right to know how their food is prepared, but also that manufacturers should be required to disclose when evil GMOs
are utilized. (Keep in mind
that most of the food that we consume includes GMOs, a fact likely unknown by
most of us.)
This labeling demand from the nutritionistas is a little hard for me
to swallow.
Proposed Label For GMO Foods
I don’t want to hear about polling that demonstrates that
most American favor mandatory labeling.
I guess we cite poll results when they support our views and dismiss
them when we don’t. Donald Trump is
ahead in every poll. See my point?
There is no scientific evidence that GMOs harm our
health. Fear is not evidence. Political correctness is not evidence. Indeed, the Food and Drug
Administration requires no GMO labeling as it has concluded that these foods are
safe.
What’s at stake here?
Just a small trifle called freedom of speech. I don’t think a person or a business should
be forced to ‘speak’ just because a vocal constituency demands it, in the
absence of any pressing public need for this. Obviously, I support labeling that highlights specific known dangers of
a product. If a food item, for example,
contains peanuts, then this should appear on the label to protect individuals
who have a peanut allergy.
Why should we stop with just GMO labeling? Why not force food companies to include on
their labels what cleaning supplies the companies use so the public can be
reassured that they are environmentally friendly? Should a coffee shop be mandated to label
their coffee as made with tap water because the filtered-water crowd believes
this to be toxic? Should vegetables be
required to have labels that specify that this product is not organic?
If a consumer wants to know if their Pop Tarts are tainted
with GMOs, then he should feel free to call the 1-800 number on the label to
inquire.
What if everyone could be forced to label ourselves
according to the whims of others? How ‘bout
if the nutrition police had to wear the following label:
CAUTION!
I MIGHT BE CONTAGIOUS!
I think this is totally reasonable and reasonable. Maybe this individual is harboring a serious communicable disease and is simply unaware that he is
infected. Just because there isn’t a
shred of medical evidence behind this, doesn’t mean we can’t mandate a public
warning. Absurd? Of course.
There's right to free speech. There's also a right to remain
silent. You have no right to make me say what you want to hear.
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