Genetically modified potatoes are coming

[Axulus]

The Agriculture Department on Friday approved the first genetically modified potato for commercial planting in the United States, a move likely to draw the ire of groups opposed to artificial manipulation of foods.
The Innate potato, developed by the J.R. Simplot Co., is engineered to contain less of a suspected human carcinogen that occurs when a conventional potato is fried, and is also less prone to bruising during transport.
Boise, Idaho-based Simplot is a major supplier of frozen french fries to fast-food giant McDonald’s.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/busin...db-11e4-9fdc-d43b053ecb4d_story.html?hpid=z12

Excellent news. One of the many tools we have in reducing the incidence of cancer. How much do you want to bet the enviro groups will be against it? In my mind, anyone who is against this potato is responsible for contributing to the number of cases of cancer, to the extent that they reduce this potato from being grown or sold, or increase the cost of such, as far as the evidence suggests that the carcinogen in question actually causes cancer.

 

[J842P]

As much as I defend the practice of transgenic methods, that doesn't mean I necessarily support the sorts of products being released. I am naturally wary of the practices of agribusiness. That being said, as far as this transgenic potato is concerned, I wholeheartedly approve of its use.

From a very cursory googling, it seems that the technique used in this potatoe is RNA interference. I wish I could find a more technical paper on this particular potato.

 

[bigfield]

This is definitely a better kind of development than the GMO's which produce their own pesticides, or can have more glyphosate sprayed on them.

 

[Underseer]

This is definitely a better kind of development than the GMO's which produce their own pesticides, or can have more glyphosate sprayed on them.

It's nothing new.

The highly politicized anti-GMO people focus on the pesticide-producing crops, but that has never been the sole kind of GMO crop. Some of the best are improving things for desperate third world subsistence farmers (not counting some of the shenanigans the GMO producers are pulling in places like India... separate issue).

 

[Under the Rose]

The fact that they are investing in a potato primarily for the fast food industry is enough to cause me concern. So when it cooks in deep fried fat, it will not produce as much acrylamide is the carcinogen that I have to assume they are discussing. How much less? The article is incredibly vague on many accounts.

Put another way, the amount of acrylamide found in a large order of French fries at a fast food restaurant is at least three hundred times higher than what the Environmental Protection Agency allows in a glass of drinking water.

http://drbenkim.com/articles-acrylamide.html

We eat locally grown Yukon Gold potatoes and as long as I know what variety of potato is being offered to make an informed choice, I'm quite indifferent to what choices other people care to make. A reduced acrylamide, saturated fat soaked tater is still not a healthy option.

 

[T.G.G. Moogly]

The fact that they are investing in a potato primarily for the fast food industry is enough to cause me concern. So when it cooks in deep fried fat, it will not produce as much acrylamide is the carcinogen that I have to assume they are discussing. How much less? The article is incredibly vague on many accounts.

Put another way, the amount of acrylamide found in a large order of French fries at a fast food restaurant is at least three hundred times higher than what the Environmental Protection Agency allows in a glass of drinking water.

http://drbenkim.com/articles-acrylamide.html

We eat locally grown Yukon Gold potatoes and as long as I know what variety of potato is being offered to make an informed choice, I'm quite indifferent to what choices other people care to make. A reduced acrylamide, saturated fat soaked tater is still not a healthy option.

Information always takes a back seat to marketing, which is why data on this new spud is so unavailable. Likely the lower carcinogen is just along for the ride while the potato was developed for shipability and appearance - which is weird.

 

[Under the Rose]

Information always takes a back seat to marketing, which is why data on this new spud is so unavailable. Likely the lower carcinogen is just along for the ride while the potato was developed for shipability and appearance - which is weird.

Indeed, considering that potatoes already are one of the more rugged produce items to transport, display and store. Just by cooking them at lower heat the acrylamide factor can be significantly reduced and French fries are never going to get a passing grade as a 'health food' but then again, the folks who are addicted to them are likewise unlikely to change their habits so it is mostly a marketing gimmick riding the heath wave to ease into the GM fray as I see it. Much of the resistance to GM came about because the public was not informed and so feel that they are being experimented upon. If they would just get on with the labeling the hue and cry would soon be over, I'm thinking, unless GM's are far more ubiquitous than any of us are aware. That's what intrigues me. Given the short attention span of our species, why are they so bloody afraid of labeling? They can pass the costs on to the consumers as they always do, so what is the real concern?

 

[fromderinside]

Horton was right.