Rosetta Newsome writes that she was shocked to read the opinions espoused by Pauline N. Harding, MD, in her Oct. 11 Voice of the people, "Playing guinea pigs to genetically modified food." By loosely and irresponsibly attributing to genetically modified foods a silent pandemic of mild to serious illnesses and ailments, from hair loss to alcoholism, that have afflicted society for centuries, is nothing short of scare tactics.

Newsome says that Harding's views on genetically modified foods are entirely contrary to those of national and international scientific and medical groups, including the Chicago-based international not-for-profit scientific society Institute of Food Technologists, seven scientific academies worldwide (five from developing nations), the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization and World Health Organization, and the American Medical Association.

In response to Harding's purposeful efforts to misinform and mislead, IFT invites everyone to examine its "Expert Report on Biotechnology and Foods" at www.ift.org/govtrelations/biotech. The report references sources who have spelled out the promise of biotechnology and its capabilities to produce foods that can lead to better health for consumers in both industrialized and developing nations.

Based upon a strong science base, not scary stories of Halloween-ilk, IFT's report assures us that genetically modified foods, including those derived from the use of modern recombinant DNA technology, are at least as safe as foods from traditional genetic modification (for example, selective and cross-breeding) and are consistent with all existing standards of food safety. The report also informs us, factually, that foods derived from the use of this technology are subject to rigorous systematic scientific evaluations--far more than routinely applied to foods from traditional genetic modification.

The AMA recognizes the many potential benefits, such as enhanced nutritional quality, reduced allergic reactions and potential to prevent and cure disease, offered by foods from modern genetic modification, and encourages their development. By spreading falsehoods and innuendo, Harding serves her own interests while doing an unbelievable disservice to the Tribune's readers and any patients she may have who struggle with the conditions she identified.