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PA Archive/Press Association Images

Why does Europe hate GM food?

But could it change its mind soon…?

WHILE THE UNITED States, Canada, Brazil, Argentina and China and many other countries have warmly embraced genetically modified crops, Europe remains the world’s big holdout.

Could this be about to change? New European Union rules now seek to clear up years of internal deadlock that could, in theory, lead to widespread cultivation of GM foods. But the fight is far from over.

The EU’s great GM debate pits two powerful forces against each other: green campaigners concerned about the effect of the crops on health and the environment, and the agri-business lobby, which argues that Europe, by resisting a technology that boosts yields and rural incomes, is losing its place at the forefront of agricultural innovation.

Only five EU countries grow GM crops at all — Spain, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Romania and Slovakia — and in such tiny quantities that they accounted for less than 0.1 percent of global GM cultivation last year, according to the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications, which monitors the industry.

Europe’s fragmented politics, diverse landscapes and smaller scale farming traditions have made it less compatible with the mass-farming techniques in the Americas and China. Only one type of modified crop – a pest-resistant maize – is approved for cultivation in the EU, compared to 96 commercial licences granted in the United States since 1990, although Europe does import more than 30 million tonnes of GM grain for animal feed each year.

Naked Sainsbury's Protest Naked human 'cows' protest outside Sainsbury's in Holborn, over Sainsbury's GM policy in the use of imported GM crops to feed cattle to produce milk. PA Archive / Press Association Images PA Archive / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

“Europe has perversely condemned itself to importing crops which its farmers could grow locally and banished thousands of bright scientists to other shores for reasons that are scientifically bogus,” claims Brandon Mitchener, a Brussels spokesman for Monsanto, one of the US agribusinesses leading the push for GM crops.

Hoping to find a way out of the deadlock, EU environment ministers last month approved new rules that would permit individual countries to make their own decisions on GM — allowing them to use “ethical” or “public order” rationales to ban crops even when scientific advisors have ruled that these strains are safe.

The compromise was the result of a fraught battle, says Frederic Vincent, health spokesman for the European Commission: “Everyone was blocking the agreement for different reasons. The UK said not enough was left to science, France said too much was left to science, Germany was a mix of both thanks to its complex coalition.”

Mad cow impact

Genetic modification technology was not always so controversial in Europe. Even France, now one of its staunchest opponents, grew GM maize well into the 2000s until green protesters pressured the government into a ban.

But Mitchener says the seeds of Europe’s aversion to GM were sown in the 1990s, thanks to two factors in particular: the strength of the Green party in Germany at the crucial moment when the technology was first emerging, and then the scare over mad cow disease in Britain.

“Mad cow disease caused a loss of public confidence in science. You had the British government saying beef was safe, while the EU said the opposite,” he says.

Unlike the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which commands widespread respect in the United States, equivalent bodies in Europe are often treated as pawns of industry or simply ignored, Mitchener adds.

“The tragedy of biotech in Europe is that no one listens to EFSA,” he says, referring to the European Food Safety Authority, a scientific body set up partly in reaction to the mad cow disease confusion. It has consistently stated there is no risk from GM crops.

Pro-GM scientists argue GM is not inherently more dangerous to either the environment or human health than any other method of crop mutation — whether through selective breeding or naturally through evolution.

Or, for that matter, by blasting seeds with radiation, as humans have been doing for decades through the process of “mutagenesis”, hoping to create mutant seeds with useful properties. More than 2,500 crops have been created in this way, including a premium barley used in Scotch whisky and disease-resistant cocoa in Guinean chocolate.

“In fact, GM is actually safer than most forms of breeding because we know exactly which properties are being implanted — it’s much less random,” argues Huw Jones, a GM scientist at Rothamsted Research in the UK.

Science consensus ‘myth’

But Greenpeace, one of the most vocal opponents, dismisses the idea of a scientific consensus on GM safety as “a myth”.

It argues that continued gaps in knowledge about gene manipulation should raise alarm bells, especially as the technology moves beyond single-gene transfers and into more complex experiments.

It also portrays GM technology as a symbol of all that is wrong with modern mass-farming techniques.

GM foods protest A protest against GM crops in Dublin two years ago following an announcement by Teagasc that it would plant GM-modified spuds. Julien Behal / PA Wire Julien Behal / PA Wire / PA Wire

“GM crops are presented as a solution, but they are part of the problem. They are a product of a wider agricultural system that is destroying our environment. They lead to more uniformity and even greater economies of scale, when what we need is greater diversity,” says Marco Contiero, EU agricultural policy director for Greenpeace.

That ties in with familiar concerns about the way GM crops are commercialised. It costs the big agrochemical firms such as Monsanto or Bayer around $200 million (140 million euros) to develop the simplest GM seed, Greenpeace says, and that gets recouped through aggressive marketing and monopoly ownership of seeds that have made Monsanto in particular the bête noire of the green movement.

All this means that the newly minted EU deal — due to go before the European Parliament and Council by the end of the year — still faces major obstacles.

Environmentalists such as Jose Bove, a French Green MEP who went on hunger strike in 2008 to force France’s first GM ban, complain the agreement will give gives biotech firm a direct role in lobbying governments, threatens single market principles and does nothing to protect cross-border contamination from GM seeds planted in neighbouring countries.

With the EU still poring over the results of May Euro-elections, it is unclear how the looming political battle will pan out. Even if the GM directive passes, will national governments court the ire of environmental campaigners by permitting large-scale GM cultivation?

“We’re creating organisms that haven’t been created in the whole of history,” says Contiero. “We are not opposed to GM in principle, but this technology is only 20 years old. For that reason, we need to be absolutely cautious.”

- © AFP, 2014

Read: US pilot treats passengers to pizza after storms delay flight

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    Mute ⚡ Seánie ⚡
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    Sep 24th 2018, 8:58 PM

    Nanny state. Everything has a knock on effect. Move on.

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    Mute EillieEs
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    Sep 24th 2018, 9:12 PM

    @⚡ Seánie ⚡: it would be a nanny state if there was a prohibition on alcohol. Advising people of the dangers does not prevent anyone from ignoring the advice.

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    Mute Barry Somers
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    Sep 24th 2018, 9:32 PM

    @⚡ Seánie ⚡: nanny state eh?
    The same line trotted out when people said smoking caused cancer and the industry denied any such link even though they themselves proved the link decades ago.

    Next time you read a warning label on any dangerous product, be it weed killer, cigarettes or whatever I suppose you can feel smug in your thoughts that it’s a nanny state thing.

    It’s funny, when the government tries to even warn people about the dangers of something simple like this it’s accused of being a nanny state, but when they don’t regulate something enough they are accused of doing nothing.

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    Mute ⚡ Seánie ⚡
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    Sep 24th 2018, 10:00 PM

    @Barry Somers: You know using week killer it’s dangerous. You don’t have to read the label to know that. You know smoking is bad for you. You don’t have to consult with a doctor to know that. You know alcohol is bad for you. You don’t need a label for that.

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    Mute Brian Ó Dálaigh
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    Sep 24th 2018, 10:10 PM

    @⚡ Seánie ⚡: Say that to Dewayne Johnson.

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    Mute Niall Brew
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    Sep 24th 2018, 11:35 PM

    @Barry Somers: so where’s the warnings on highly processed foods? Sure pints and pubs will need warnings too. Or is it just selective cherry picking?

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    Mute Tony O'Regan
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    Sep 25th 2018, 7:09 AM

    @EillieEs: But like, nearly everything gives you cancer, should all red meat have cancer warning? And if we do push to introduce this it should be at a EU level, otherwise we’re just killing our exports or making it more expensive and complicated by doubling labels, etc that need to go out. I mean there are studies that link milk and cancer. Exactly what increase is caused by what consumption of alcohol? Alcohol is bad for you, we all know that, but it’s not as bad as cigarettes or other toxins when drank sensibly IMO. Also per the women’s health, does that mean there should be a label advising women to drink less than men as they’re more in danger? “Are the profits of the alcohol industry more important now more than women’s health,” Don’t think you’ll get much support for that suggestion…

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    Mute Ireland Unlocked
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    Sep 25th 2018, 10:23 AM

    @Barry Somers: Yup and there is a question here of potential legal liability for the drink industry and also the State in not alone not informing consumers of known and significant risk but now actively concealing that information. Look at the recent Monsanto case where the science actually favoured the company and they still lost.

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    Mute David Connolly
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    Sep 24th 2018, 9:02 PM

    You might as well put it on a packet of ham as well, sometimes you just have to say stop, it’s not going to achieve anything, smoking reduction has only work due to vaping not because we put a warning on a packet.

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    Mute Barry Somers
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    Sep 24th 2018, 9:34 PM

    @David Connolly: sorry David but the stats don’t backup your mistaken belief, smoking deduction had started a long ago and it was because of high prices, the smoking ban, education and smoking changes.

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    Mute Dermot Foley
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    Sep 24th 2018, 9:52 PM

    @David Connolly: well technically you’re correct of course, but maybe just red meat seeing as it has been classed the same as tobacco as a type one carcinogen. Well done sir. Well done.

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    Mute Ireland Unlocked
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    Sep 25th 2018, 9:35 AM

    @David Connolly:
    1. Only certain forms of meat are carcinogenic, all alcohol is.
    2. The carcinogenic effect of alcohol is orders of magnitude larger than that from meat according to liver specialist Frank Murray during the radio debate referred to here.
    3. Meat is associated with one form of cancer, bowel, alcohol is associated with 7 different forms, most salient here, breast cancer.
    4. This is the Pubic Heath Alcohol Bill, not the Public Health Meat Bill. ‘Whataboutery’ is a pretty weak argument.

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    Mute Link
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    Sep 24th 2018, 9:01 PM

    I think that comment is an affront to those who have suffered from cancer themselves, or had a loved one endure that terrible affliction. To use the suffering and misery of that horrific disease to further your own agenda is an absolute disgrace.

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    Mute Declan Moran
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    Sep 24th 2018, 9:06 PM

    @Link: well said Link. I think this is a disgraceful decision. More should be done to warn people. Anything we can do to help even one person from being strick down with cancer has to be encouraged and anyone whom thinks otherwise is being totally ignorant and reckless

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    Mute Zmeevo Libe
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    Sep 24th 2018, 11:27 PM

    I have suffered from cancer (not drinking related), and the last thing I need is a remainder about it on every bottle of wine I see!

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    Mute Paula T Nolan
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    Sep 25th 2018, 7:36 AM

    @Zmeevo Libe: Couldn’t agree more. Next it’ll be on every item containing sugar.

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    Mute Ireland Unlocked
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    Sep 25th 2018, 10:09 AM

    @Zmeevo Libe: Sorry to hear about your history but it doesn’t entitle you to have information concealed that could help others avoid the same fate or worse from knowing the risks they are taking.

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    Mute Zmeevo Libe
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    Sep 25th 2018, 11:13 PM

    @Ireland Unlocked: Her claim is that not having a warning is an insult to me, not that it is preventing others from obtaining the information. Actually, I had cancer that is common among smokers and drinkers. I am neither, so my diagnosis was vastly delayed because I wasn’t “typical”.

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    Mute Sean
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    Sep 24th 2018, 9:33 PM

    Men get alcohol related cancers too. I don’t follow the logic that removing the cancer warning shows a marked indifference to women’s health. There is no need to bring gender into every argument. It is getting quite tiring at this stage. Besides there are quite a lot of female politicians in the Government who were able to agitate quite effectively on other recent issues. Its not another sinister plot by the patriarchy.

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    Mute Ireland Unlocked
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    Sep 25th 2018, 9:57 AM

    @Sean: Breast cancer is one of the most common alcohol attributable cancers. 1 glass per day of wine increases a woman’s chance of developing it 9%, 13% if it’s in her family. We’re currently in the midst of a scandal where cancer related information was withheld from women and now the government appears to be doing that again while there is tragically low awareness among women of the cancer risk – according to the Healthy Ireland survey in 2016, only 27% of women 25 or over were aware of the alcohol breast cancer link, 16% of those under 25.

    Women are most certainly getting shortchanged here.

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    Mute Sean
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    Sep 25th 2018, 10:58 AM

    @Ireland Unlocked: 1 glass of wine per day sounds like a lot what with glasses being the size of goldfish bowls these days. I think if you were drinking that much you’d have a fair idea it wasn’t good for you.

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    Mute Ireland Unlocked
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    Sep 25th 2018, 12:31 PM

    @Sean: Liver specialist Frank Murray specifically talks about the number of people he deals with that had no clue the amount they were drinking was a problem and are taken by complete surprise by their illness.

    https://www.independent.ie/life/health-wellbeing/surge-in-irish-women-with-liver-disease-caused-by-alcohol-34932021.html

    One of the big problems here is that we have a totally distorted view about what ‘a lot’ of alcohol is, a distortion the drink industry never addresses in it’s supposed harm reduction efforts and yup, the glasses are part of the problem.

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    Mute Bart
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    Sep 24th 2018, 10:01 PM

    You don’t live any longer if you give up, smoking, drinking and sex. It just feels longer

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    Mute ed w
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    Sep 24th 2018, 10:19 PM

    Surely barbecues. Barbecue sauce. Crisps. Bread when toasted where would you like it to end ?

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    Mute Ireland Unlocked
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    Sep 25th 2018, 10:19 AM

    @ed w: Tell me, which one of those results in 900 cancer diagnoses and 500 deaths per year? Alcohol is order of magnitudes more risky.

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    Mute Siobhán Ni Mhurchú
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    Sep 24th 2018, 9:08 PM

    While I don’t think it would be made a difference , th3y were able to put a warning and a pic on a pack of cigarettes without a problem. I also don’t see how it’s insulting to those who suffer from cancer.

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    Mute Ireland Unlocked
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    Sep 25th 2018, 9:47 AM

    @Siobhán Ni Mhurchú: I think she might mean that it diminishes the seriousness of cancer and by extension, those who develop it if it isn’t given more priority than the private vested interests of drink manufacturers by the State.

    I think also that for most people with cancer, it must be frustrating to see the State actively concealing this information particularly when there is such a low awareness level (just 27% of women over 25 are aware of the link between breast cancer and alcohol, 16% of those under 25), and all this in the context of recent controversies where health information on cancer was withheld from women.

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    Mute oppenheimersghost
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    Sep 24th 2018, 9:18 PM

    Bernays hired women to march while smoking their “torches of freedom” in the Easter Sunday Parade of 1929 which was a significant moment for fighting social barriers for women smokers. Now its seen as ”cool”

    Women comatose drunk is a common sight now, as well as those puking their guts up on a Saturday night. teens etc drunk out of their minds? I don’t have to start on men and booze. have people lost all self respect?

    Irish people who make excuses for their abuse of alcohol are in denial and easily brainwashed by the likes of Diageo and slick marketing

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    Mute Bernie Roche
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    Sep 24th 2018, 10:38 PM

    @oppenheimersghost: People were getting out of their minds drunk on a very regular basis around here well before the advent of marketing

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    Mute Ireland Unlocked
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    Sep 25th 2018, 9:39 AM

    @Bernie Roche: Consumption of alcohol in Ireland has almost trebled since the 60′s.

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    Mute Psyarron
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    Sep 24th 2018, 9:24 PM

    Politicians have to pretend to care about everyone, choosing the right things to say at the right time. To answer the question, yes of course the profits of the drinks industry are more important than woman’s health, everyone’s health! You have to be a certain type of person to be a politician, a self centred narcissist show boater!

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    Mute Shane
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    Sep 24th 2018, 11:35 PM

    It would seem Harris is back tracking on previous commitments- caving into the powerful drinks lobby. Such impressive leadership!

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    Mute John Ryan
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    Sep 24th 2018, 10:46 PM

    Lots of people on this site seem to get very touchy anytime drinking or alcohol is mentioned in a negative light… I wonder why ? ;-)

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    Mute David
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    Sep 24th 2018, 10:51 PM

    @John Ryan: Because we love the sauce!!

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    Mute Anto Harris
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    Sep 25th 2018, 7:29 AM

    I wish Black and her ilk would touch on and mind their own business. Yes there is an issue with excessive alcohol consumption in Ireland but this Bill is not the way to tackle it. The revenue from the increased prices will go straight to the retailer in profits and the Govt in increased revenue. Why not use the extra revenue to fund alcohol treatment centres, tackling the problem proactively instead of profiteering.

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    Mute Costello Trevor
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    Sep 24th 2018, 11:49 PM

    The warning should be on meat too..

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    Mute Anthony Clark
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    Sep 25th 2018, 3:11 AM

    @Costello Trevor: plus cannot forget games consoles – seriously – the new Neo Geo mini has a California “May cause cancer” on the back – I’m not joking!

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    Mute Frank Lee
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    Sep 24th 2018, 11:42 PM

    Oh shut up…bloody nanny state I don’t know where to start. Coffee causes cancer…bacon causes cancer, burned toast causes cancer. Why in this republic is the government wasting so much time on trying to kill life’s little pleasures and not on the great big honking housing crisis outside their door

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    Mute Josh Hanners
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    Sep 24th 2018, 11:23 PM

    Powerful Drink Lobby pressuring the government.

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    Mute Big bad bull
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    Sep 25th 2018, 12:48 AM

    Some size of a brown envelope id guess…..

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    Mute Costello Trevor
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    Sep 24th 2018, 11:53 PM

    It would be great if it was on certain foods too…

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    Mute lapsy pa
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    Sep 25th 2018, 3:25 AM

    Can’t stick a label on poverty !

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    Mute Reuben Gray
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    Sep 25th 2018, 9:44 AM

    I demand a giant permanent warning be erected in the sky over Ireland with the words “Causes Cancer” and a giant movable arrow which always points to the sun. Only then will we be safe.

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    Mute Slim Shady
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    Sep 25th 2018, 6:58 AM

    They should have warnings on alcohol that drinking it will make you do stupid things.

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    Mute Rb1kan
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    Sep 25th 2018, 9:31 AM

    I’m affected by cancer and this td is talking out of her behind

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    Mute Ireland Unlocked
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    Sep 25th 2018, 10:28 AM

    @Rb1kan:She’s a Senator.

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    Mute anthony o cathain
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    Sep 25th 2018, 12:07 PM

    USA age 21. Medical age 24. Over 55s have to cease. Health warnings (like cigs) 35 yrs too late. I only drink if I know AND like everyone in the room. My friends never shut up about drink. New evidence says no to drink at any time. Good riddance

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    Mute Chemical Brothers
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    Sep 25th 2018, 8:36 AM

    #IrishAirCorps CAUSES CANCER

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