Forbes writer: GMO labeling would violate corporate speech rights

[Donnachaidh]

http://www.grist.org/industrial-agriculture/2011-02-24-pro-business-writer-argues-gmo-labelin-violates-corporate-rights

In a blog post on Forbes.com, Glenn Lammi, general counsel for the right-wing, pro-business think tank the Washington Legal Foundation, goes on the attack against Mark Bittman's recent New York Times op-ed column calling for the labeling of genetically engineered food. Lammi, aside from indulging in ad hominem attacks mocking Bittman's "modestly named iPhone/iPad application, How to Cook Everything," not to mention "the foodie elites and Luddite activists" who oppose genetically engineered food, also indulged in just about every pro-GMO trope in the books.

Lammi extols the supposed virtues of genetically engineered food: how their safety is beyond question, how they increase agricultural productivity and lead to lower prices, etc. As Grist's coverage has explained time and again, none of this is so clear cut. But my favorite bit had to be this:

Biotechnology allows crops to grow larger, faster, with fewer or no pesticides, and in otherwise intolerable climates.

Yes, well, that's only true in Monsanto's marketing materials. As of yet, despite much hype, we haven't a GMO crop that can be grown in "otherwise intolerable climates." The single element in that list with a grain of truth is the "fewer or no pesticides" argument -- though with the rise of superweeds and superbugs, even that "quality" is under threat.

Much more at the link --

[Buzz Clik]

1. Idiots.

I have no fear of GMO food, but there is no reason not to label it as such. People who do not want to consume GMO food have the right to know how to avoid it.

[sendero]

2. +1

By this idiot's logic, hiding information about insider trading is "free speech".

[SpiralHawk]

3. Republicons luv them the OCCULT

They never want anyone to know about the shit they are up to...they hide everything, including the truth and the mutant crap they are poisoning the plants, animals, and people with...

[sinkingfeeling]

4. So he thinks corporations' speech rights overshadow a human being's right to know what he's eating?

[Donnachaidh]

5. that arrogance just blew me away. But that's what we get when we give corps the same rights

That needs to be fixed -- soon.

[ljm2002]

6. So I'm sure that Mr. Lammi opposes the restrictions...

...that are placed on producers of non-GMO foods, namely, they are not allowed to state on the labels that their foods do not contain GMOs.

Right, Mr. Lammi? You're all for free speech, right?

[WinkyDink]

7. NOTHING leads to lower prices.