AgBioWorld Members Discuss Contaminated Tomatoes, Genetic Glass Ceilings, and the Vatican’s Views on Biotechnology
Salmonella and Tomatoes
Abstract: Members discussed the recent outbreak of salmonella contamination of tomatoes in the United States. A member started the conversation by posting links to two different stories about raw tomato contaminated with salmonella, noting that it was “strange.” Another member responded by noting that there have been “dozens of similar outbreaks for decades,” providing links to the “Barf Blog,” a blog belonging to the Food Safety Network. Members went on to discuss agriculture standards, specifically those of organic agriculture. Many agreed that if irradiation was used more widely, it would reduce the number of illnesses and deaths associated with food-borne diseases. Finally a member posted an article written by Henry Miller, titled “Attack of the Killer Tomatoes,” on the salmonella outbreak in the U.S. The article was originally published in the U.K. newspaper The Guardian, but has since been picked up by several other newspapers in the United States.
Sources: Houston Chronicle
Reuters
Barf Blog (Food Safety Network)
Barf Blog (Food Safety Network)
The Guardian (UK)
Jonny Gressel’s book Genetic Glass Ceilings Discussed
Abstract: Members discuss a new book by Jonny Gressel, Genetic Glass Ceilings: Transgenics for Crop Biodiversity. One member notes that the author “asks challenging questions and discusses realistic, clear-eyed solutions to the questions – all about the genetic glass ceilings faced by plant breeders.” Another noted that the book was the number one seller on Amazon.com and was sold out. All appeared to agree that it was a really good book.
Source: Amazon.com listing
Vatican Set to Release Opinion on Biotechnology; Rumored to be Favorable
Abstract: A member posted a CBCP News article on the possibility of Pope Benedict XVI issuing a “favorable” stand on the use of genetically modified food as an answer to world hunger. The article quotes Bishop Jose Oliveros, Episcopal Commission on Bioethics chairman of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines as saying that the Vatican is set to release its report early next month, hinting that the findings may be in favor of biotechnology. Also noted is that the Vatican has remained neutral on the issue, but “is said to have been swayed by scientific evidence of biotechnology’s safety and the unrelenting problem on world hunger. Another member posted links to two older article on the Vatican’s opinion on GMOs.
Sources: CBCP News
Nature (PDF)
National Catholic Reporter (PDF)
