Dr Ameen Yousuf, food safety consultant at the General Secretariat of Municipalities addressed the bogus survey that Greenpeace conducted and the Gulf News hyped last weekend.
He said that he "could not say whether or not GMOs are dangerous to health as more studies are needed", though as I noted in my last post on this, "No major health hazards have come to light since GM food was introduced 13 years ago, and close to 150 studies are published to attest their safety". Still, at least his comments are much more balanced than the last report. No talk of "contamination" this time, instead urging "scientific research".
I could have done without his comment that "it could be discovered in 20 years that there are serious side effects". Obviously, that is true, more time might show some hidden danger right now. It could also be discovered that reading the Gulf News causes cancer, but there is also no evidence for that proposition either. The only difference is that anyone who went around trying to frighten people on that basis wouldn't be taken seriously.
This blog began as a description of our life in Al Ain, UAE (United Arab Emirates). Brn worked at the UAE University Libraries Deanship for three years and Bss homeschooled our four children, D, B, P, and O. After returning to the the USA for five years, we are living in Abu Dhabi now.
Showing posts with label food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label food. Show all posts
2007/01/30
2007/01/26
GM Foods
Greenpeace, the environmental group, has shown up in the Gulf and convinced the Gulf News to run an editorial disguised as an article.
In the article, the following phrases are used as statements of fact, not opinion:
The UAE lacks "proper labelling [sic] laws". Sorry, but it is not that easy. By what standard are the current laws improper? Because Greenpeace doesn't like them?
The UAE "has the highest incidence of genetically engineered (GE) contaminated food" (emphasis added). This is using loaded language completely inappropriate to a news article. Calling GM a contamination is begging the question. You haven't proven that it is bad. Would you call the milk that is sold in the stores "contaminated" by Vitamin D?
"The first GM crop was engineered in 1996 in the United States". No, this is just flat out wrong. It is so wrong that it demonstrates either stunning ignorance or a willingness to deceive. Humans have been genetically modifying plants for thousands of years through cross-breeding and domestication. It is only that we have begun doing it scientifically in the last few years.
This is whole story is anti-scientific scaremongering at its worst. The whole point is to make you afraid.
I hate argument by asseveration. If your position is so obviously right, how hard is it to produce some proof? Here let me show you how easy it is: "No major health hazards have come to light since GM food was introduced 13 years ago, and close to 150 studies are published to attest their safety". [citation]. If Greenpeace or the Gulf News has some proof, present it. Otherwise take your scary stories that aren't fit to frighten children and go.
[Update] Keefieboy, who disagrees with my view of GM foods, agrees with my general impression of the article. Go read his take here.
In the article, the following phrases are used as statements of fact, not opinion:
The UAE lacks "proper labelling [sic] laws". Sorry, but it is not that easy. By what standard are the current laws improper? Because Greenpeace doesn't like them?
The UAE "has the highest incidence of genetically engineered (GE) contaminated food" (emphasis added). This is using loaded language completely inappropriate to a news article. Calling GM a contamination is begging the question. You haven't proven that it is bad. Would you call the milk that is sold in the stores "contaminated" by Vitamin D?
"The first GM crop was engineered in 1996 in the United States". No, this is just flat out wrong. It is so wrong that it demonstrates either stunning ignorance or a willingness to deceive. Humans have been genetically modifying plants for thousands of years through cross-breeding and domestication. It is only that we have begun doing it scientifically in the last few years.
This is whole story is anti-scientific scaremongering at its worst. The whole point is to make you afraid.
I hate argument by asseveration. If your position is so obviously right, how hard is it to produce some proof? Here let me show you how easy it is: "No major health hazards have come to light since GM food was introduced 13 years ago, and close to 150 studies are published to attest their safety". [citation]. If Greenpeace or the Gulf News has some proof, present it. Otherwise take your scary stories that aren't fit to frighten children and go.
[Update] Keefieboy, who disagrees with my view of GM foods, agrees with my general impression of the article. Go read his take here.
2007/01/19
Coffee
One of my great regrets about living here is that I don't like the taste of coffee or dates, since coffee and dates are the two most prominent symbols of Gulf hospitality. I always feel like I'm insulting Emiratis if I turn them down, since they are so justly proud of their hospitality. I occasionally try a small cup anyway out of courtesy. I especially like the the ceremony involved and love to watch my Emirati co-workers.
If you don't know, the coffee is served in very small cups (فنجان [funjan]). If you want more you hold your cup out to be refilled. When you have had enough, you gently shake the cup.
Today we had a lunch at work, and coffee was served before (and after), so I tried a cup and talked with my co-workers about it. One told me that each cup has a meaning: the first cup is for hospitality, the second is for your well-being, and so on. Also, that when you visit someone to ask for a favor, you don't drink that person's coffee until he has agreed that he can help you.
They also told me a very funny story about what happens if you don't understand the ceremony. Siad Barre, the Somali head of state, came to visit Abu Dhabi, and was of course served coffee. He drank the first cup and held it out to the servant so that it could be taken away. The servant instead refilled it, which is what that motion indicates. So Barre drank that one and again held the cup out, trying to get rid of it. Again it was refilled and emptied and held out. And again. And again. Finally Barre just took the cup and stuck it in his pocket, the the great amusement of his hosts.
If you don't know, the coffee is served in very small cups (فنجان [funjan]). If you want more you hold your cup out to be refilled. When you have had enough, you gently shake the cup.
Today we had a lunch at work, and coffee was served before (and after), so I tried a cup and talked with my co-workers about it. One told me that each cup has a meaning: the first cup is for hospitality, the second is for your well-being, and so on. Also, that when you visit someone to ask for a favor, you don't drink that person's coffee until he has agreed that he can help you.
They also told me a very funny story about what happens if you don't understand the ceremony. Siad Barre, the Somali head of state, came to visit Abu Dhabi, and was of course served coffee. He drank the first cup and held it out to the servant so that it could be taken away. The servant instead refilled it, which is what that motion indicates. So Barre drank that one and again held the cup out, trying to get rid of it. Again it was refilled and emptied and held out. And again. And again. Finally Barre just took the cup and stuck it in his pocket, the the great amusement of his hosts.
2006/12/26
"...look no further for the true meaning of life..."
Because it is right here: Steven Seagal's Lightning Bolt Energy Drink - Asian Experience.
I can't tell if this is supposed to be funny or not. The rest of the site looks like a real retail site, but then you have this piece of writing:
Yeah, I'd hate for that to happen too.
I can't tell if this is supposed to be funny or not. The rest of the site looks like a real retail site, but then you have this piece of writing:
Cold Weather Alert: Due to the cold temperatures of the winter months, customers have been experiencing exploding Bawls. We at Xoxide are very concerned for the safety of our customers and do not wish for their Bawls to freeze.
Yeah, I'd hate for that to happen too.
2006/12/09
Pop Tarts! In Al Ain!
For the first time ever I have seen Pop Tarts for sale in Al Ain! Mega Mart in the mall had some yesterday. Admittedly, they are Chocolate Mint flavor, quite possibly the worst flavor ever, but at least it is progress.
2006/10/14
Shocking Revelation
The top story in last week's edition of the Al Ain Times contains the following shocking revelation in the headline: "Carfour [sic] topped food-shopping places in Al Ain". Other studies reveal that it is hot in Al Ain in the summertime and that it doesn't rain much in the desert.
Actually, I think that that headline is unfair to the study, which was conducted by faculty and students the College of Food and Agriculture of the UAE University, making it sound like one of those silly studies that you hear about periodically. (For example, from Best of the Web on Friday: "A U.S. meta-analysis finds people identified as having an aggressive and irritable personality are likely to engage in aggressive behavior.")
While I haven't seen the study, the paper's summary presents some interestings tidbits like the fact that Emiratis' favorite fruit is mango, while all the other groups prefer apples.
Actually, I think that that headline is unfair to the study, which was conducted by faculty and students the College of Food and Agriculture of the UAE University, making it sound like one of those silly studies that you hear about periodically. (For example, from Best of the Web on Friday: "A U.S. meta-analysis finds people identified as having an aggressive and irritable personality are likely to engage in aggressive behavior.")
While I haven't seen the study, the paper's summary presents some interestings tidbits like the fact that Emiratis' favorite fruit is mango, while all the other groups prefer apples.
2005/07/26
Spaghetti
Something that occured to me last night as I was cooking dinner:
Why are spaghetti noodles all the same length, regardless of manufacturer? Is there some commission in Italy that decrees the size and shapes of pasta? I can't even find this information on the internet anywhere, though I did find out that the BBC ran a hoax story about spaghetti trees in Switzerland, and that in the 13th century, the pope set quality standards for pasta (at least the current pope is addressing important issues like that fiend Harry Potter).
Why are spaghetti noodles all the same length, regardless of manufacturer? Is there some commission in Italy that decrees the size and shapes of pasta? I can't even find this information on the internet anywhere, though I did find out that the BBC ran a hoax story about spaghetti trees in Switzerland, and that in the 13th century, the pope set quality standards for pasta (at least the current pope is addressing important issues like that fiend Harry Potter).
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