新視野大學(xué)英語視聽說教程第四冊 Unit 8 Let’s Talk

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Correspondent: In the U.S. what percentage of people support biotech crops? And do those who support biotech crops also eat biotech foods? What percentage of food on the market hasgenetically modified ingredients?

Professor: U.S. consumers have been exposed to a very effective anti-biotechnology propaganda campaign for the last few years, but according to polls, over 70% support biotechnology. For example, in a recent referendum in Oregon, voters rejected a proposal to require special labels on all products containing biotech ingredients by an overwhelming 73% to 27%. That’s probably because consumers know that we have an effective administrative system. Many may also know that 70-80% of the processed food products on supermarket shelves contain one or more ingredients from biotech crops. All Americans eat biotech foods unless they deliberately seek out products that are labeled otherwise. Evidence suggests that this is less than 5% of consumers.

Correspondent: Chinese scientists have used biotechnology to create a new type of tomato, which contains the vaccine against hepatitis B. What’s your take on this?

Professor: It’s a great example of how this technology can be used to save lives, ease pain and suffering and improve the human condition. How can anyone be opposed to that? My only hope is that the clinical trials of this new tomato go well, and that it is quickly delivered to health-care providers who will use it to vaccinate people against hepatitis. By the way, please note that I do think that such new pharmaceutical foods need to be handled as medicines by professionals and not as conventional foods. You will never see these tomatoes in the supermarket. In a sense, the tomato plant is just being used to manufacture a vaccine in a very safe and economical manner.