Genetically modified food has been part of the American diet for several years – and it’s everywhere. 85 percent of U.S. corn and 91 percent of U.S. soybeans are genetically engineered. It’s estimated that 70 percent of all processed foods at American supermarkets contain genetically engineered ingredients. Now, a company is Massachusetts says it is close to receiving FDA approval to start selling genetically modified salmon – which would be the first transgenic animal sold in America for consumption.

But critics argue that we simply don’t know enough about the consequences of genetically modified food to approve its consumption, and some public interest groups are even considering lawsuits to stop the sale of the salmon if the FDA approves it. What are the public health issues involved with genetically modified foods? What are the current regulations/legislation covering this new technology? What are the problems involved with genetically engineered fish escaping into the wild (from farms)? And shouldn’t consumers have the right to know these products are created this way?

Guests include:

Patty Lovera, Assistant Director of Food and Water Watch, a public interest group that advocates for policies that will result in healthy, safe food and access to safe and affordable drinking water.

Eric Hoffman, Genetic Technology Policy Campaigner for Friends of the Earth, an environmental advocacy group that promotes clean energy and solutions to climate change, keeping toxic and risky technologies out of food and other products, and protecting marine ecosystems.

GAP then turned to the whistleblower website WikiLeaks which has made national headlines for its posting of hundreds of thousands of classified materials, including Collateral Murder – a video from a helicopter which documents Iraqi civilians being killed by U.S. forces. The U.S. government takes the view that WikiLeaks, Bradley Manning (accused of releasing the video), and Julian Assange (WikiLeaks’ founder) irresponsibly and dangerously reveal sensitive information. Others point out that there are no “proper” channels to release information, and a lack of appropriate legal protections for national security whistleblowers will inevitably lead to more releases of this nature.

GAP’s Homeland & Human Rights Director Jesselyn Radack discusses WikiLeaks, as well as the cases of Bradley Manning and Thomas Drake – two national security whistleblowers who are being prosecuted by their own government.