Frankenfoods!

[Dakota]

Would any genetically engineered food be considered a 'Frankenfood?' So, basically everything from the store? I guess I'm not exactly sure what Frankenfoods are...

FrankenFoods.com Main Page


^ Could somebody help the dummy out?

 

[vraiblonde]

There is no such thing as "Frankenfood". That's something the Granolas made up so you'd spend a fortune on organic chicken and vegetables, and because they like something to bawl about.

Genetic engineering has produced the hardy veggies we enjoy today, and assorted hybrids that are more nutritious than their originals. Because of genetic engineering, vegetables are more available outside their local area. Genetic engineering also produces plants that are more disease, weed and pest resistant, which means they are less expensive and lower-income folks have better access to fresh foods.

So don't buy into the hype. GM foods are just the boogeyman du jour among the hysteria set.

 

[DEEKAYPEE8569]

There is no such thing as "Frankenfood".

Prob'ly not, but I remember one year a while back; my Dad had a garden.
He grew strawberries the size of tomatoes and succhini (sp?) the size of a newborn baby. No joke.

 

[Dakota]

Thanks V...

I don't even know why I give a crap about this but I see the term tossed around a health and fitness forum I tend to read and also in the comment section of articles. After reading a little bit on it, it just seemed to me that everything sold in a store qualifies (by their definition) as a 'Frankenfood.’

 

[vraiblonde]

After reading a little bit on it, it just seemed to me that everything sold in a store qualifies (by their definition) as a 'Frankenfood.’

Most of the veggies you get at the Farmer's Market qualify as Frankenfoods as well. You can grow your own non-hybrid or GM veggies, but have fun finding the seeds. And have fun trying to keep them pest and fungus free. Not to mention you'll be disappointed when you don't get those nice plump gorgeous red tomatoes you're hoping for.

:shrug:

 

[Crewdawg141]

Most of the veggies you get at the Farmer's Market qualify as Frankenfoods as well. You can grow your own non-hybrid or GM veggies, but have fun finding the seeds. And have fun trying to keep them pest and fungus free. Not to mention you'll be disappointed when you don't get those nice plump gorgeous red tomatoes you're hoping for.

:shrug:

Heirloom varieties have so much more flavor IMHO than store bought. As for finding seeds go to Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds - 1400 heirloom garden seeds! I know that there are a few other companies that sell non-gmo seeds or heirloom varieties but I have never dealt with them. I have purchased from the company whose link is above and do not have any complaints about their service at all. Also if you do not mind going to the SMRFM in Cheltenham, I know that there are some sellers of both heirloom tomato plants and fruits later in the season. Personally I buy my tomato plants from there as opposed to buying seeds and starting them at home (save time and effort while supporting a local grower).

I have not had any issues with the plants and any abnormal pests or issues, and there are natural ways of treating most pests to stay organic. As for the colors, if you can accept the fact that we (the collective buying public) have been trained that a tomato is red, a pumpkin is orange, etc and can have an open enough mind that nature has created so many more varieties and colors of things than just what you find in the local grocery store then I think that you will enjoy growing different varieties and tasting your bounty come harvest time.

 

[Dakota]

Crew,

You could, perhaps, grew a few items and be organic, to some degree, but realistically, nobody excludes *ALL* (by definition) Frankenfoods from their diet.

Pretty much everything we buy at the store is in some way chemically engineered. I saw a posting on a health/fitness board where a member recommended a few of the WW's meals and somebody quoted the post saying they don't eat "Frankenfoods." I actually thought it was some made up name to describe their disdain for WW meals but after seeing it mentioned time and time again, I googled it. My original opinion that it pretty much contains everything still remains the same.

 

[jazz lady]

There is a big difference between selective breeding to get the traits you want in a food from something that is already present IN the food and genetic engineering which artificially adds some trait not normally found in a food source. THAT is what is called "Frankenfood."

Man has been breeding desired traits into foods/animals for a long time - hence all the hybridized seeds/plants and animal breeds we have now. They are not natural in the sense is you cannot breed them to reproduce the same traits in their offspring without artificial means but the traits are naturally occurring in that source.

Does the corn we have now look anything like the corn the Indians grew? Not by a long short. But by selectively breeding the desired traits (disease resistance, more corn kernels, etc.) we now have a plant that is far superior.

Genetic engineering may accomplish the same sort of thing a lot more quickly but the potential for introducing undesirable traits (allergens, toxins, etc.) is exponentially greater because these things are not naturally occurring and thus there is no way to predict the side effects without extensive testing.

A long read but a pretty good write-up, although it can get pretty techical at times, about this subject:

Genetically modified food - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Crewdawg141]

Crew,

You could, perhaps, grew a few items and be organic, to some degree, but realistically, nobody excludes *ALL* (by definition) Frankenfoods from their diet.

Pretty much everything we buy at the store is in some way chemically engineered. I saw a posting on a health/fitness board where a member recommended a few of the WW's meals and somebody quoted the post saying they don't eat "Frankenfoods." I actually thought it was some made up name to describe their disdain for WW meals but after seeing it mentioned time and time again, I googled it. My original opinion that it pretty much contains everything still remains the same.

Yes, I agree that we (consumers) cannot escape GMOs. The only way that you could do that is if you had the financial resources and time to grow everything on your own. I can pray that I hit the Powerball, but until then I will eat GMOs like the rest of the consumers. Vrai's comment was what actually pulled me into the thread - the alleged challenges of finding and growing non-GMO seeds. Matter of factly I just ordered my seeds today to try some different plant this year.

 

[Dakota]

Thanks Jazz - I started to read that the other night and got sleepy.

Crew,

Let me know how your plants turn out. Last year, I bought some squash, melons, etc. from the Amish and although I got some veggies, they were very small.

 

[vraiblonde]

the alleged challenges of finding and growing non-GMO seeds.

But there are challenges, including expense. You yourself said so:

I can pray that I hit the Powerball, but until then I will eat GMOs like the rest of the consumers.

Regardless, certainly you can eat non-GM but, unless you have extreme allergies or sensitivities (like Jazz said), there's no real reason to.

It's like the big outcry over high fructose corn syrup and how it supposedly contributes to our obesity issues. My suggestion is that it's not the corn syrup that's the problem, but the Pop Tarts and Ben & Jerry's ice cream that include the sweetener that actually make you fat.

The problem with this sort of random hysteria is that activists tend to group together. They raise money, then give it to politicians to further their cause legally. They we get these ridiculous restrictions, like the salt thing in NYC restaurants. If we start banning GM foods and high fructose corn syrup, suddenly we see a significant increase in the price of food, which impacts all of us.

I think it's completely irresponsible and short-sighted.

*You* eat how *you* want, but when you make it a cause and start jumping up and down about it, now you're a control freak who wants to dictate everyone else's diet.

 

[Crewdawg141]

But there are challenges, including expense. You yourself said so:



Regardless, certainly you can eat non-GM but, unless you have extreme allergies or sensitivities (like Jazz said), there's no real reason to.

It's like the big outcry over high fructose corn syrup and how it supposedly contributes to our obesity issues. My suggestion is that it's not the corn syrup that's the problem, but the Pop Tarts and Ben & Jerry's ice cream that include the sweetener that actually make you fat.

The problem with this sort of random hysteria is that activists tend to group together. They raise money, then give it to politicians to further their cause legally. They we get these ridiculous restrictions, like the salt thing in NYC restaurants. If we start banning GM foods and high fructose corn syrup, suddenly we see a significant increase in the price of food, which impacts all of us.

I think it's completely irresponsible and short-sighted.

*You* eat how *you* want, but when you make it a cause and start jumping up and down about it, now you're a control freak who wants to dictate everyone else's diet.

The monetary challenges that I was referring to was in the thought of going to an all organic no GMO diet - it is an expensive proposal. My heart goes out to people that must go to such a diet for health reasons. Winning the lottery would allow me to buy a farm and go to such a diet, but until that happens I buy the majority of my seeds from Baker Creek. I will admit that the seeds are a little bit more expensive but the flavors of the fruits make it worth the extra $0.50-1.00 more per packet of seeds, IMO. I have fun with things like purple podded pole beans and other heirlooms. I am not some tree hugging occupy type, I just enjoy growing a garden and if I can do it without chemicals the happier I am.

Has there ever been any interest expressed in the forums for seed sharing or anything of the sort regarding gardening?

 

[vraiblonde]

Has there ever been any interest expressed in the forums for seed sharing or anything of the sort regarding gardening?

We have a Home and Garden forum and I'll bet there are several people on here who would be interested in seed sharing and heirloom gardening techniques.

Kumatos are one of my favorite tomato varieties, and you should use your heirloom tomato interest and grow some of those. They're brownish, and not very attractive, and they're expensive, but MAN are they tasty. I might actually do that this year since I have no summer vacation plans....

 

[Crewdawg141]

We have a Home and Garden forum and I'll bet there are several people on here who would be interested in seed sharing and heirloom gardening techniques.

Kumatos are one of my favorite tomato varieties, and you should use your heirloom tomato interest and grow some of those. They're brownish, and not very attractive, and they're expensive, but MAN are they tasty. I might actually do that this year since I have no summer vacation plans....

I have been through the H&G Forum in the past, I was just curious if I missed a thread like that. I cannot say that I have heard of Kumatos, I will look into them as I like trying to successfully grow different foods. I grew to pink Brandywines last year that made some wonderful tomato sandwiches and the Black Krims were very juicy.

Vrai, is this what you are talking about?

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