Why is the same skepticism not applied to conventional and alternative farming/medicine?

Why do many who are skeptical about conventional medicine(despite the overwhelming body of scientific research on which it is based) accept the (often bizarre) claims of alternative therapies such as homeopathy, apparently without need for evidence?

Why are many anti-GM (genetically modified) food campaigners wanting GM food to pass safety standards that organic food couldn't pass?

Why do many believe that conventional chicken contains hormones, despite this practise having been made illegal decades ago?

Why do many believe that conventional produce contains harmful pesticides, despite testing showing that >90% of non-organic food has zero detectable residue? (And the remaining generally having measurements that are magnitudes lower than the scientifically established safe exposure levels.)

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_foo...

Please, examine the issues yourself and come to your own conclusions...

I share your frustration!! Why are people willing to pay hundreds of dollars for unproven pills and potions, and yet want free prescription medicine and free doctor visits.

Organically grown food tends to stay on the vine longer, and therefore develop a fuller flavor. This makes people think that it is more nourishing, and does not contain chemicals. Well, it is not more nourishing. And all fresh foods can carry food borne illnesses, no matter how they were grown. Food borne illness is the most damaging because of sickness and death.

I can not understand why people will take herbal pills and capsules when there is NO overview of the manufacturing cleanliness, purity or potency. How do you know what really is in the pill. There are so many research articles that have evaluated products for the item that it is sold for. Some contain none of the ingredient, and some contain 100% and some are in between. How do they know it is even safe to put in their body?

Some people justify their use of herbs because they are "natural", and natural has to be good. My response is, OK, poison ivy is natural, do you want to swallow that?

Keep up your questions. Your question and comment are well said.

LH,
Dietitian Counselor at Cancer Center

Money can not be made if people come up with their own remedies. The big pharmaceutical companies have enough money to publish studies that make natural remedies appear ineffective or less effective that their brands. While the big guys are definitely helpful in what they do, they should be kind enough to leave room for the naturalist and home remedies. Just remember they are out to make money and if a cup of home grown tea can clear a headache, what will they do with those millions of aspirin?

What a naive viewpoint ! Did you know over 90 percent of medicine comes from natural ingredients found in the natural rain forest. Without the natural blueprints the pharmaceutical companies would not have many synthesized meds to offer. For every ailment there is an herb. Your talk about the pharmaceuticals OVERWHELMING BODY OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH on which it is based. Do you know more people die from meds than any diseases. And the FDA test them for safety before placing on the market. RIGHT!!!!! As many ads lawyers have on T.V. for those harmed by meds which have been taken off the market, you get the since that the real testing is done in the field.
Genetically modified food-----only time will tell................chicken, unless you by organic free range chicken by a reputable grower, then your chicken is full of hormones, antibiotics, and the like. PITA can give you pictures and info on chicken.
Pesticides on fruit and vegetables...established safe exposures levels.........what a joke!!!
You think they can really monitor it all.......What about CHINA. SELLING US CONTAMINATED PET FOOD, THEN PET TREATS, THEN WAS REPORTED THAT OUR FOOD CONTAMINATED AS WELL, THEN THEY EXPOSE THERE YOUNG CHILDREN TO MAKE TOYS CONTAMINATED WITH LEAD TO SEND TO OUR CHILDREN. NOW CHINA HAS SENT US MILLIONS OF TIRES WITH THE MID BELTS THAT KEEP TIRES FROM EXPLODING APART. HOW STUPID ARE WE. ISN'T IT TIME TO REFUSE TO BY PRODUCTS FROM CHINA. I THINK WE COULD HAVE DONE BETTER TO HAVE KEPT OUR TOY COMPANIES HERE. LEAD POISONING IS NOTHING TO TAKE LIGHTLY.
American Biotech Labs has a patented manufacturing process, and products are sucessfully studied by medical doctors, they are tested by major universities, and certified independant laboratories.