North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

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On Aug 9, 2006, at 11:41 PM, mangodance wrote:

> > It's a common belief that the seed used to produce the
> > oil was genetically modified, but what I've read
> > indicates that it is not.
>
> If I read your statement correctly, you're saying that canola oil  
> is not
> prepared from genetically modified (GMO) seed?  If so, I would check
> your source. . . .

This is a confusing topic, because there have been false claims that  
canola oil crop was developed through genetic engineering.

1)  The crop plant was originally bred from ordinary rape through  
ordinary selective breeding.  This reduced the toxins in the oil to  
the point where it was practical to refine it for human food.

2)  Since then Monsanto has genetically engineered a version of  
canola that is resistant to RoundUp.  The vast majority of the crop  
is currently genetically engineered, if I remember my facts right.   
And Mr. Mangodance is right about the peculiar legal theory that has  
prevailed under which a Canadian farmer growing non GMO rape or  
canola whose crop is contaminated by pollen from a nearby field of  
Monsanto canola is guilty of "theft" if he doesn't pay royalties (or  
something?) to Monsanto.

Ginda