GMO WARNING: Beware the Golden Rice

In part 2 of this series, I'll be discussing something that hasn't quite made it onto the shelves yet. But it's something you should be aware of. Golden rice.

Photo courtesy of Daniele Pellati

Why GMO? International Rice Research Institute/Golden Rice Humanitarian Board/Syngenta have engineered a type of rice to be loaded with Vitamin A (beta-carotene). That doesn't sound so bad.

But there are some concerns over the rice that the companies have been engineering for over 15 years now, yet still has not been approved. While the need to feed the world is often the reason pro-GMO advocates give, Golden rice doesn't contain nearly enough beta-carotene to actually make a difference. C'mon, nobody eats that much rice! So, for the countries where blindness in children often occurs because of Vitamin A deficiency, golden rice simply isn't the answer. In other words, this is a waste of money. You would think the Golden Rice Humanitarian Board could find better ways to help feed the poor.

As we all try to avoid genetically modified foods, because, let's face it, no one knows the long term affects of it, keep an eye out for golden rice and keep it out of your shopping cart!

Keeping you informed,