GMOs
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Stats on how far we’ve come (or haven’t) since the first Earth Day
3.7 billion — world population in 19701 6.4 billion — world population in 20051 1,535 billion — kilowatt-hours of electricity used in the U.S. in 19702 3,837 billion — kilowatt-hours of electricity expected to be used in the U.S. in 20053 6.0 — percentage of electricity in U.S. consumed in 1970 produced from renewable sources4 […]
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Umbra on odd fruit
Dear Umbra, Yesterday in the grocery store I saw a “golden kiwi.” Is there really such a thing? It was over twice the size of a regular kiwi and the familiar fuzz was not there. It was almost as smooth as a nectarine. When I inquired of the produce representative, she told me that it […]
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Umbra on the environmental impacts of soy
Dear Umbra, I’m interested in learning more about the treatment and genetic modification of soy and how prevalent this is. I think a lot of folks choose products such as soy milk because they think they are making a better choice for the earth, as well as themselves. I think this is an overlapping issue […]
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Umbra on the mysteries of produce code numbers
Dear Umbra, I recently learned that the UPC numbers on produce indicate whether the item is conventionally grown (beginning with a 4), organically grown (beginning with a 9), or genetically modified (beginning with an 8). I like to buy organic, locally grown produce at my local health food store whenever possible, but recently at a […]
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Umbra on genetically modified foods
Dear Umbra, Is most of the genetically modified food that makes its way into our grocery aisles really that harmful? It seems to me that the process of genetic modification is not that far from hybridizing and other tinkering processes that we’ve come to accept. Judi Boston, Mass. Dearest Judi, We don’t know, and that’s […]
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A new consumer revolution could change the way we label food
There’s a tongue-in-cheek ad campaign going on in New York City right now regarding smoking in public places. The ads feature slogans like, “If they ban smoking in airports, people will never fly again,” and “If they ban smoking in bathrooms, people will never gossip again.” I thought of this campaign when I stumbled across […]
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A new GMO treaty is about to get tangled up in trade tussles
All but eclipsed by the somber anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety will become international law today with little fanfare. Nonetheless, its entry into force could mark the beginning of a new era in international trade — with potentially sweeping consequences for the environment. Fields of grain […]