I wanted to respond to a recent letter to the editor regarding biotech vegetables. Hundreds of tests and millions of dollars are spent on research to demonstrate the safety of the product. When crops are genetically modified they are not made toxic. They are developed to be unpalatable to pests or resistant to herbicides. Please keep in mind that toxicity does not mean adverse risk.
Risk is determined by multiplying toxicity times exposure.
Therefore a very high toxicity product can be unsafe when exposure is very high. With respect to labeling genetically modified crops, there is an ongoing discussion among several government agencies and a decision on whether to require labeling is expected soon. Naturally, people are cautions about new technology. So it is easy to understand the concern regarding biotechnology. Often these concerns can be allayed with education.