The really unfortunate thing about the Genetically Modified Food debate is that it has become so polarizing, when it is so obvious that the useful ground is somewhere in the middle. Hippies call GMO's 'Frankenfoods'. Biologists call hippies 'Luddites.' Meanwhile, no useful debate can occur and the only people getting happy are the big businesses who succeed in patenting a variety of for-profit monstrosities because the very people who could encourage researchers to concentrate on socially useful applications of the technology are the people whom the researchers now perceive as hostile.
My personal (and, I pride myself on thinking, somewhat educated) stance:
Genetically modified organisms certainly do have the potential to be dangerous, and should be carefully tested under controlled conditions, before they are released into the wild. Moreover, modifications made in living things for the purpose of profit (whether by genetic engineering or more conventional means) should be carefully monitored for their effect on the public and environmental good. Terminator genes I must view as an unconscionable attempt to create a monopoly.
On the other hand, genetically modified foods have not been personally created by Satan. When a given genetic modification has been proved to be safe, it should suffer no further stigma simply because it is a 'Frankenfood'. After all, we have been modifying the genetics of our foodstuffs and domesticated animals for years, by a noncontroversial yet sometimes hazardous (as to boxer dogs) process known as 'selective breeding'. Above all, further research into genetics must not be banned. Humans are never better off deliberately ignorant, since the brain when ignorant creates absurd and often hazardous fancies to fill the gap.
There, that was nicely balanced and rational, was it not? I expect I shall get loads of flaming hate-mail for it.
Ok, I admit it. I'm only in favor of genetic research because I hope to someday create a mutant army of genetically modified cats to take over the world. Mwahahahaha