BRIEFS
Sydney Morning Herald
Tuesday March 1, 2011
Labelling the GM culpritsAs Bob Weston says (Letters, February 28), there is nothing to stop food retailers putting "GM-free" labels on food, if they can manage to source ingredients that are GM-free (and contamination actively reduces that likelihood). But it is a requirement that ingredients be listed, other than those that fall through the loophole for GM that was put in place by the Howard government and left there by Labor.Wheat and oats must be listed as ingredients. Coeliacs and those with relatives and friends with nut anaphylaxis, lactose intolerance or other dietary complications, are well aware of package labelling: "May contain traces of nuts/wheat/lactose/soy/etc." Why should GM products be exempt from similar warnings?What is the difference between "less than 1 per cent" and "may contain traces of ..."?We have the right to know what is in our food, and a responsibility to check labelling. I fulfil my responsibility, but my right is denied.Three cheers for The Truefood Guide, a large black mark against producers, multinational GM peddlers and governments for making the guide a necessity.Megan Hitchens WatanobbiMy daughter was recently diagnosed with coeliac disease. She and I have had to learn quickly which foods she must avoid, as even a breadcrumb of gluten can further damage her intestine. Fortunately for us, the situation is not comparable to that of GM foods as described by Bob Weston. Australian food labels provide enough information so that we can readily discover if foods contain gluten, regardless of any advertising label such as "gluten-free". We just need to know what to look for.Pamela Budai CastlecragMore than one way to stir the possumSounds like a media beat-up to me. From floods to locusts to possums - and all in Sydney ("Not even the PM's pansies are safe from city's possum plague", February 26-27)? One possum catcher and a couple of nurseries hardly constitute all Sydneysiders. And even the nursery managers recognise the possums (and other wildlife) are being pushed out of their habitat as development destroys bushland. So where is the consideration for wildlife in this process - by developers, councils and residents? Where are the possums to go to find themselves new homes and new sources of food?Kris Spasojevic ConcordBrigette Sharp (Letters, February 28) can anthropomorphise all she likes, but I still don't have much sympathy for the possums that visit my inner-city backyard.I tried planting natives, but the possums defoliated them before they could become established. The new foliage on the established natives doesn't stand a chance. I wouldn't even bother trying to plant vegetables or herbs. They'd all go in minutes.The only solution seems to be to remove the natives and plant water-wise exotics that the possums won't eat (for now at least). It goes against the grain, but at least I'll have a garden that I can watch, grow and enjoy.Bruce Harris NewtownAgainst all oddsAny bookmaker who offers odds on a known (to some) outcome, such as the Oscars, is a fool wishing to be parted from their money.Matthew Bennett QueanbeyanBatting for premierRecently, I watched a TV ad I thought was an anti-Labor attack by the Coalition involving pink bats and other disasters. Then came the punchline, "We are the power, we are the people". It turned out to be an ad for 2GB. Are we being asked to vote for Alan Jones as our next premier?Joan Dalgleish NararaHeaven's doorFather Peter Dresser (Letters, February 28) should nail his letter to his church door. It worked for that Luther chap back in the day.Phil Doyle Glen Allen
© 2011 Sydney Morning Herald
