Genetically modified crops resistant to 2,4-D spur debate, calls for labeling

(CBS News) A debate over genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is raging across the country from farms to the federal government. A company called Dow Chemical is on the verge of getting approval for a new genetically engineered corn that's supposed to be immune to the chemical weedkiller "2,4-D" - a primary component of Agent Orange, the New York Times reported.

Environmental advocates call the chemical a carcinogen  that's also linked to birth defects, dubbing the product "Agent Orange Corn" and saying it has no place near food grown in the U.S.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs says Agent Orange exposure for soldiers during their military service has been tied to diseases such as amlyoidosis, hodgkin's disease, leukemia, type 2 diabetes, ischemic heart disease, multiple myeloma, Parkinson's disease, prostate cancer, several types of respiratory cancers, and other conditions. The VA Department also recognizes birth defects such as spina bifida tied to Agent Orange and other herbacides.

The Times however reported that most experts agree that the harm from Agent Orange was caused primarily by its other ingredient, 2,4,5-T, which was taken off the market years ago. The Environmental Protection Agency also rejected a petition from the Natural Resources Defense Council to take the weedkiller off the market earlier this month, saying it was safe.

The victims of Agent Orange do not deserve "to have their tragedy exploited in an irresponsible way," Steve Savage, an agricultural consultant wrote in his blog, Applied Mythology, the Times reported.

Farmers, scientists and consumer groups scheduled a news conference on Thursday to urge U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to shut down Dow's regulatory application, Reuters reported. Some health advocates have also urged the USDA to reject Dow's application.

"Many studies show that 2,4-D exposure is associated with various forms of cancer, Parkinson's Disease, nerve damage, hormone disruption and birth defects," Wenonah Hauter, executive director of Food & Water Watch, told Reuters. "USDA must take these significant risks seriously and reject approval of this crop."

The controversy was discussed this past week at New York City's first Green Festival. Among the many environmentally friendly products on display, some of the leading consumer advocates shared their ideas for a healthier diet and a more sustainable environment. The proliferation of GMOs in the country's food supply and environment is of primary importance to many, including Jeffrey Smith of The Institute for Responsible Technology.

Smith told CBS News' Roland Marconi that there are currently nine genetically modified food crops with corn and soybean along with their derivatives being the most present. He said the new "GMOs resistant to 2,4-D" raise concerns because animal studies show the chemical contributes to major health problems for almost every organ system. That's why consumers and lawmakers across the country are pushing for mandatory labeling laws that would mention when food contains GMOs. Currently more than 20 states have introduced bills for mandatory labeling, Smith said. In California, for example, advocates expect the labeling requirement to be on the November ballot after gathering 850,000 signatures. More than 1.1 million consumers have also signed petitions to the FDA to label GMOs on products.

Dow defended the corn and said the chemical is safe, and more farmers need to be educated about its benefits.

"Although pesticide opponents continue to repeat the same old claims, the fact remains that EPA has thoroughly evaluated and responded to them, in great detail, on multiple occasions in the past, in a transparent public process in which all stakeholder opinions -including the opinions of pesticide opponents - were carefully taken into account by regulators charged with the protection of public health," Dow said in a company statement.

"This is going to be a solution that we are looking forward to bringing to farmers," Joe Vertin, Dow's global business leader for the initiative that's called "Enlist," told Reuters.

The American Farm Bureau Federation said in a statement it backs the new corn and thinks the USDA should grant its approval.

Updated 4/28/2012 2.07 P.M.:This story corrects an earlier version of this blog that inadvertently misrepresented the context of a quote from Steve Savage that was reprinted in The New York Times.

[tgotech]

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[tgotech123]

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[tgotech]

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[prsquared]

What CBS failed to report is that 2 4 D has to stop being used at a certain time because at a certain temperature it volitalizes and then can travel in the air with a small amount of wind and land as far away as a half of mile. This small amount can and will kill other crops. It will never be used after it has warmed up in the spring. EPA and plant boards have insured this by labeling the product as prohibited for use after a certain time during the months and temperature are above those temperatures. CBS is sensationalizing how it can be used all through the season. CBS please correct your statement and be careful at what your report, start doing your homework. You missed the Mark this time, or was that your intention?

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[foo8259]

Read the book "Wheat Belly" and you'll likely never touch Modern Grains again! As far as "Genetically Modified Foods" go I; as an Molecular Biologist, say they should be no more dangerous than nature's normal mutations -- or the result of Mendelian types of DNA manipulation such as manual "crossbreeding."

[cgtruthseeker]

Read the book "Genetic Roulette" and you'll likely never touch Genetically Modified Foods again! How can manually forcing genes from one species into a completely different species be considered a natural process? Crossbreeding is a natural result from within a species. You cannot take a moth and breed it with corn naturally can you? Genetically modified foods contain these types of scenarios. BT Corn is made with genes taken from moths and other insects that have the bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)property to make it an insecticide. When an insect bites into the corn, in short their insides explode. This is the same corn being sold for human consumption and is labeled by the EPA as an insecticide, not food. Yes, there are normal mutations and crossbreeding that occurs in nature, but this is NOT the same as genetically modifying organisms. NONE of the genetic manipulation that takes place in the lab could EVER be done naturally in nature.

[hindmost_2000]

As a 100 percent total and permanent disabled Viet Nam Vet due to Agent Orange poisoning I add the following.

Even as the war was winding down DOW Chemical knew Agent Orange was killing Viet Nam soldiers. They had their high power lawyers lobby their co-oped Congressmen and received a permanent exclusion from being sued by dying military personnel. Gee, now DOW's legal boys say Agent Orange is 'safe'. What a crime! Oh, by the way, it took Uncle Sam 40 years to admit Agent Orange was killing Viet Nam Vets and to finally provide disability payments and medical care.

I'm likely to die myself in a few years with my advnced diabetes and heart disease and I've seen many Viet Nam Vets who were friends die in their 40's and 50's from Agent Orange. They nor their families received a dime from anybody. Their names should be added to the 'Wall' in DC as they died in the war but just didn't know it!

[Farmer_Guy]

I am sorry for your predicament, but the Dioxin that made you sick was removed from the chemical 40 years ago.

2,4-D has been sprayed on crops for 60 years, it has been studied to death and proven safe. There is no arguing that fact.

[len aldis]

It was also stated at the time of the Vietnam War that Agent Orange was safe and did no harm to human, some members of US forces even drank it, now they regret it.
2,4,D is half of Agent Orange and half a bottle of poison is still poison. If readers want to know more on Agent Orange and its use on Vietnam, they can go to: www.aoag.org

[Suppozo]

I think people are missing the big picture here. If we genetically alter a plant to be resistant to a certain chemical, there has to be some negative side affects in the long term food chain type events. Or maybe ive watched too many cartoons.. I feel like the genetically altered corn could take the world over by genetic domination lol

[marychgo]

There are many good things about capitalism, but capitalistic science's insistence that it be allowed to do anything it CAN do is not one of them.

The fact is that we don't KNOW the long-term impact of genetically modified crops, and companies like Dow and Monsanto haven't been particularly aggressive in trying to devise tests that might helps us guess what it will be. So we're shooting craps with the health and safety of our children and grandchildren.

Two generations ago, asbestos was a miracle substance: a fire retardant used in almost every building and, during WWII, every ship the U.S. Navy built. Unfortunately, thousands of those construction workers -- and even their wives and children -- developed asbestosis or mesothelioma as a result of inhaling asbestos "threads."

I HOPE genetically manipulated crops won't have similar unexpected consequences. But the LEAST American consumers have a right to is clear labeling that allows them to DECIDE whether they want to eat GMO foods....