Would you eat genetically engineered fruit if it was cheaper?

Question

If no, what makes you think genetically engineering makes food unsafe?

Answer 1

No. I believe that anything - be it animal, fruit or vegetable - that is genetically engineered is unnatural.

For example, some fruit are already genetically engineered. I was reading an article about how scientists placed a certain enzyme in a bunch of strawberries that was supposed to act a "natural" bug repellent. The end result would allow the crops to stay fresher long and survive traveling to other parts of the country. What they didn't anticipate is how humans would react to this "planted" enzyme. The people who ate these berries became very sick. The illness was not fatal, but it was terrible just the same.

I think that many times scientists are so focused on realizing their end result that they forget about other side effects in the process. That's why I steer clear of genetically modified anything.

~peace love & light~

Answer 2

Genetic engineering is like nuclear technology. Very useful, with great potential to do good, but often misused.

What DO you mean by genetic engineering? Most ancient farmers were genetic engineers. They used natural methods to breed for better fruit and veggies. Were it not for their original efforts, tomatoes would be inedible. Does that make them evil?
How about transferring a gene from a pepper to a tomato? Is that evil?
Or transferring a fish gene to a tomato? Is that wrong? Most people would draw the line here. I would too. But to answer your question, I need to know how you define G.E fruit.

I think Monsanto's brand of genetic engineering (to make money) is immoral in some ways, but it doesn't mean genetic engineering is bad! It means Monsanto is bad, at least in regard to that. There is a BIG difference.

We all need to realize that everything follows a continuum. You are tampering with nature every time you cut down a tree. Where do you draw the line?

So, to answer your original question, I would want to know why the fruit is G.E, and how it was done. That, not price, would influence my decision.

Answer 3

I think whether or not it is safe is an interesting question, but not determinative of whether I will buy it. I try in all my purchases, including food, paper products etc., to buy as much natural and organic as possible. It is my choice to try to have my body be fueled and comprised of the most healthful and natural stuff I can get. I realize there is a possibility I could eat 100% GM foods for the rest of my life and still be perfectly healthy, but I do not want to take the chance.

In addition, I would rather give my money to local and sustainable farmers than large chemical corporations. So, My answer is no, I will stick with the real stuff.

Answer 4

No, GMO foods are a disaster waiting to happen. We simply don't know what the long-term, unintended effects of genetic modification might be. Just because you get a desired effect (like pest-resistance or higher yield) it doesn't mean the modified/added genes won't also alter the nutritional value or that pest-resistance won't damage an ecosystem. Companies have genetically engineered corn that is its own pesticide. It's not approved for human consumption but that hasn't stopped the plants from accidentally spreading into the human food chain.

Answer 5

We already do. Much of the fruit and vegetables sold in the US is genetically engineered. The US is one of the few countries that allows genetically engineered food to be sold (and doesn't require it to be labeled either).

Answer 6

In the USA, the government keeps us in the dark about what food is genetically engineered.

The power of companies such as Monsanto is held in higher regard than freedom of choice.

Whether it is safe or not is beside the point to me--I think we should be allowed to choose whether we want to eat it or not.

Answer 7

Genetic engineering is a tool that large corporations plan to use in the patenting of our food supply.

Corporations such as Monsanto create herbicide and pesticide resistant plants so that they can be sprayed with 3x the poison.

They also have developed plants that will not bear seeds so that the poor farmers must buy seeds every year instead of using seeds from the previous cycle.

Answer 8

Almost all our food is genetically engineered already. It's just the way mankind has adjusted nature to suit our needs.

Answer 9

>> No, would not eat if cheaper ~ We do not know the long term effects of GM on people & animals yet as it is a relatively new process. Health is more important. GM should be banned.
>> The seeds only produce one seaons worth of produce, so the farmers are going to be controlled by corporations.
>> we are all probably eating this type of food without realizing it anyway ~ Laws governing the labelling of food products need to be more stringent to incorporate everything done to food/what processes/additives etc. are used.
(where I live anyway)

Answer 10

To all who say you won't eat GE foods because they're "unnatural"

I say Shenanigans.

You're using the INTERNET, how is the internet natural?
have you ever rode in a gasoline powered vehicle?
how about your clothes, I'm sure thare's at least a little unnatural ingredients.
have you ever written anything? most inks are unnatural, as is paper itself.

these are just some examples of manmade things.

and to the poster who said that GE foods should be banned because we don't know the long term effects on people...
if we ban it, we never will. that is why we TEST things first.