BASF To Stop Selling Genetically Modified Products in Europe

This article, written in the New York Times by James Kanter, exemplifies the global skepticism of genetically modified foods.  The German chemical company BASF has decided not to sell genetically modified foods in Europe mainly because of the popular distrust among people and the unknown longterm health effects of the products.  BASF's withdraw includes the disease resistant variety of Fortuna potatoes and the disease resistant variety of wheat.   Both products are not currently marketed anywhere else in the world.  This popular decision for BASF to terminate their marketing plans will cause 140 research jobs in Europe to be lost.  Many of those jobs will now be relocated to their North Carolina plant.  Even though BASF has decided not to market genetically modified products in Europe, these products are being imported into Europe by other companies based in other countries such as the United States.  Genetically modified foods are not supported by environmentalists and are still very unpopular to the majority of people due to the unknown health effects.

[caption id="attachment_3429" align="alignright" width="190" caption="Genetically Modified Fortuna Potatoes"][/caption]

Genetically modified products can be a positive for our world's fast growing population.  More research and tests need to be done in order for the majority of the population to give genetically modified foods a try.