In the U.S. over eighty per cent of the soybeans, corn, and canola grown in the U.S. are Genetically Modified Organisms or GMO. Recently, Aphaluck Bhatiasevi wrote about some of the name brands that use GMO.
Nestle baby food, Good Time instant cereal, Knorr cup soup, Nissin cup noodle, Lay’s Stax potato chips, Pringles snacks, and High Class Vita-Tofu soybean curd were found to contain GMOs.
However, it’s not just the U.S. that has been plagued by GMO-filled products but now more foods in Thailand contain GMOs. In America the main issues faced are the danger of the foods and the law requiring labelling. Currently, there is a legal battle with Monsanto, one of the first producers of the toxic pest control substances, DDT and PCB, as well as other GMO lobbyists fighting a law to label GMO filled products.
The law, Proposition 37, also known as “The California Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act,” would require manufacturers to label all food items that contain genetically engineered ingredients.
But in Thailand, the government has already been taking steps toward the importance of letting customers know what is going into their food. The Thailand FDA will start providing labels for consumers so people can at least be warned before consuming produce that could potentially lead to health problems.
In comparison to the U.S., Thailand is becoming more progressive when it comes to the issue of GMOs and protecting is citizens as labelling is already a requirement.
Greenpeace accused the manufacturers of practicing a double standard for rich and poor countries, naming multinational corporations Nestle, Unilever, Pepsi, Nissin, and Procter and Gamble.”
In other countries these same companies are implementing a GMO-free policy in the production of their food commodities and speak in favour of GMO labelling,” said Auaiporn Suthonthayakorn a campaigner for Greenpeace.
Other countries are also taking a stand in eliminating GMOs in their countries produce. France recently began an investigative research project in which researchers studied the negative long-term effects of GMO.
MSG in Thailand
| US Lawyers Bangkok Chaninat & Leeds is a US-Thailand law firm located in Bangkok, Thailand and is staffed by licensed Thai attorneys and licensed US lawyers. |
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Yes, big business such as Montsano, can buy off the politicians in the U.S. Which should definitely have labeling of GMO products. Why are they afraid of letting us know if their products indeed are so safe? The answer is simple because GMO in lab tests with rodents have already shown abnormal growths and other problems. In many ways the EU and countries like Thailand should be applauded for taking the right step, and putting the interest of their people first.