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| -Short Attention Span Theater- |
| Rotten Tomatoes Caused by Climate Change? |
| 2008-06-18 |
| The tomato scare that has sickened 170 people and is the worst food scare since the E. coli/spinach outbreak is being blamed by some environmental activists on climate change and the need for more food grown with the help of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). I was interviewing a board member of Food and Water Watch for a feature I am writing, and he positioned the scare as an eco outbreak because with less space to farm, more droughts, and higher costs, GMOs are the logical choice for farmers who want quick crops from less land. For the record the source of the tomato infection hasnÂ’t been determined. The FDA hasnÂ’t narrowed its search. But this time of year the most common varieties are red round, red Roma, and red plum tomatoes. They are most likely grown in Florida or Mexico. The agency admits U.S. consumer demand to eat fresh fruits and vegetables year-round - has its job a lot more difficult. And concedes it needs more inspectors overseas. See a good take on this from the San Jose Mercury News here. Anyway, the source of the E. coli in spinach turned out to be feces on the hoofs of wild boars that traipsed through spinach plants. The source of tomato infections may turn out to be something as naturally errant as that. But with less room and climate change affecting crops, another outbreak is sure to come. GMO strands can only serve to exacerbate the spread. So itÂ’s definitely worth watching where your food and water comes from. And know their source. |
| Posted by:Delphi |
| #11 Number of cses of salmonella from tomatoes has now jumped to 383 today... |
| Posted by: crazyhorse 2008-06-18 23:29 |
| #10 A little irradiation will go a long way to end these problems [both produce and activists]. I understand that it does take a bit from the full taste, but doing a 'Japanese Blowfish' meal of death really isn't necessary these days. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2008-06-18 22:00 |
| #9 So MSM-Net News film footage showing Tomato Handlers-Workers using only their bare uncovered hands, putting/throwing into crates and dipping/picking into water troughs, etc., had nuthin' to do wid anything??? |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2008-06-18 19:57 |
| #8 Give em a nice swirlie |
| Posted by: Frank G 2008-06-18 17:36 |
| #7 Perhaps washing fresh fruits and vegetables when the end-user gets them home would help, too? |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2008-06-18 17:02 |
| #6 The e-coli in the tomatoes is especially deadly to polar bears. :-) |
| Posted by: Rambler in California 2008-06-18 16:44 |
| #5 |
| Posted by: Deacon Blues 2008-06-18 16:44 |
| #4 A rare double moonbat article, GMO AND Gerbil Worming. I'd challenge the author to include Polar Bears in his next article. |
| Posted by: Bright Pebbles 2008-06-18 16:43 |
| #3 It's the Attack of the Killer Tomatoes!! |
| Posted by: Deacon Blues 2008-06-18 16:38 |
| #2 Damn. My bet was global warming... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2008-06-18 16:30 |
| #1 So what genetic mod would work? One that gave tomatoes teeth so they could bite a field worker in the ass for doing a caca in the fields? |
| Posted by: M. Murcek 2008-06-18 16:22 |