Food Fray: Inside the Controversy over Genetically Modified Food

by: Lisa Weasel

Published by: AMACOM

Reviewed by Muhammed Hassanali

From the book’s description I was expecting to read about the debates in the scientific community on the dangers and perhaps the testing procedures used to determine genetically modified (GM) food safety and long-term impact on human and environmental well-being.

The author is a molecular biologist, and I would assume a scientific approach would be a natural starting point. The media coverage of GM foods has generally been less than thorough, considering the complexity of the various tools available for producing GM foods, and the media’s bias for sound bites. After all, cross-breeding is one pathway of genetically modifying food, and it has been occurring for several millennia (by some accounts even before writing was invented). A cogent discussion on GM food has to be nuanced, showing readers how to recognize and evaluate the various shades of grey between the polar black and white positions.

What I found instead was a much greater focus on the politics and media coverage of the GM debate. Discussion of the science involved in GM foods and their impact on humans and the environment were superficially covered, instead the narrative dwelled on legal, political, and emotional tug of war between corporations that earn a livelihood from GM foods (claiming that GM foods can help reduce world hunger and disease) and environmentalists (claiming that the proliferation of GM foods is fueled by bad science and corporate greed).

A number of skirmishes between the two groups are covered. One of these is the debate over “golden rice” which was genetically engineered to have high levels of vitamin A. These grains were distributed to those parts of the world where rice is a staple food, and the population was found to be deficient in vitamin A. Another contentious area is injecting cattle with a growth hormone which leads to increased milk production. Yet another is Zimbia’s refusal to accept U.S. GM food aid during the food crisis of 2002.

This book covers the socio-political aspects of GM food, and all major aspects are well represented. The narrative presents these aspects in a way, which make them interesting and easy to understand.

The disappointment I have is that I was anticipating a greater focus on the science of GM foods and their impact (from a scientific perspective) on humans and the environment.

Armchair Interviews says: Heed this reviewer’s comments so you know what to expect in the book.