Wednesday, May 20, 2009

The GMO Bandwagon is in Town!

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It's been a while since I blogged about GMO's.... (Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are the result of laboratory processes which artificially insert foreign genes into the DNA of food crops or animals. Those genes may come from bacteria, viruses, insects, animals or even humans. GMOs are not safe, but have been in the food supply since 1996. Most Americans say they would not eat GMOs if labeled, but the U.S. does not require labeling.)

I got my copy of Spilling the Beans newsletter today. In it was a fantastic article on GMO's. Spilling The Beans is put out by the Institute for Responsible Technology. You can get your copy by signing up here.

You can join the 30 day challenge by clicking on the image above! We need to put our foot down. We need to shout from the roof tops. We need to pass this on to everyone we know!

GMO's ARE BAD FOR YOU!

Excerpt:

GM corn and cotton are engineered to produce their own built-in pesticide in every cell. When bugs bite the plant, the poison splits open their stomach and kills them. Biotech companies claim that the pesticide, called Bt—produced from soil bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis—has a history of safe use, since organic farmers and others use Bt bacteria spray for natural insect control. Genetic engineers insert Bt genes into corn and cotton, so the plants do the killing.

The Bt-toxin produced in GM plants, however, is thousands of times more concentrated than natural Bt spray, is designed to be more toxic,[10] has properties of an allergen, and unlike the spray, cannot be washed off the plant.

Moreover, studies confirm that even the less toxic natural bacterial spray is harmful. When dispersed by plane to kill gypsy moths in the Pacific Northwest, about 500 people reported allergy or flu-like symptoms. Some had to go to the emergency room.[11],[12]


[10] See for example, A. Dutton, H. Klein, J. Romeis, and F. Bigler, “Uptake of Bt-toxin by herbivores feeding on transgenic maize and consequences for the predator Chrysoperia carnea,” Ecological Entomology 27 (2002): 441–7; and J. Romeis, A. Dutton, and F. Bigler, “Bacillus thuringiensis toxin (Cry1Ab) has no direct effect on larvae of the green lacewing Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae),” Journal of Insect Physiology 50, no. 2–3 (2004): 175–183.

[11] Washington State Department of Health, “Report of health surveillance activities: Asian gypsy moth control program,” (Olympia, WA: Washington State Dept. of Health, 1993).

[12] M. Green, et al., “Public health implications of the microbial pesticide Bacillus thuringiensis: An epidemiological study, Oregon, 1985-86,” Amer. J. Public Health 80, no. 7(1990): 848–852.

Another excerpt:

On May 19th, the American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) called on “Physicians to educate their patients, the medical community, and the public to avoid GM (genetically modified) foods when possible and provide educational materials concerning GM foods and health risks.”[1] They called for a moratorium on GM foods, long-term independent studies, and labeling. AAEM’s position paper stated, “Several animal studies indicate serious health risks associated with GM food,” including infertility, immune problems, accelerated aging, insulin regulation, and changes in major organs and the gastrointestinal system. They conclude, “There is more than a casual association between GM foods and adverse health effects. There is causation,” as defined by recognized scientific criteria. “The strength of association and consistency between GM foods and disease is confirmed in several animal studies.”

More and more doctors are already prescribing GM-free diets. Dr. Amy Dean, a Michigan internal medicine specialist, and board member of AAEM says, “I strongly recommend patients eat strictly non-genetically modified foods.” Ohio allergist Dr. John Boyles says “I used to test for soy allergies all the time, but now that soy is genetically engineered, it is so dangerous that I tell people never to eat it.”

Dr. Jennifer Armstrong, President of AAEM, says, “Physicians are probably seeing the effects in their patients, but need to know how to ask the right questions.” World renowned biologist Pushpa M. Bhargava goes one step further. After reviewing more than 600 scientific journals, he concludes that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are a major contributor to the sharply deteriorating health of Americans.

[1] http://www.aaemonline.org/ gmopost.html

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20 comments:

  1. Thanks for sharing this very important information!

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  2. I am not being argumentative, but having read a lot of the research in this area I just don;t think GMOs harm the health fo those who eat them. there are environmental and personal freedom issue. But the scientific idea they harm the health of those who eat them is no more mainstream IMHO than that globabl warming doesn't exist or evolution doesn't happen. I support the right fo people to choose what they eat, but not the idea that scientific data says GMO food is dangerous to health.

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  3. I'm surprised to see Emily of all people not be against GMO's- the blog rebel...anyway, I am not supportive of GMO's and it's true- we can all choose what we eat. However, most folks don't know that just about any corn or soy product unless labeled organic or non-gmo IS in fact made with gmo corn or soy. How can you choose if you don't know what it is you are eating? I can't believe anything chemically or genetically altered is good-period. Thanks for writing on this important topic

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  4. Wow!!! Thanks for sharing the information!! We are going to have to check out the article more!!
    Your FL furiends,

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  5. Wow.... this is going to be a heated debate. I am looking forward to returning here, and learning more about GMO's.

    Honestly, I am new to this. I have just began my challange of only eating free range foods. I believe any small positive step to change our food industry puts our Universe in the right direction.

    Thank you for bringing this to my attention.

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  6. Great information, I just don't know how realistic is it to avoid GMOs completely.

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  7. I have yet to understand why GMOS are necessary. I think it is an excuse to see what works, what does not, what hurts a human and what does not.

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  8. Hi Christina,

    I am so with you on this one, girl *high five*!
    We are lucky, here in Portugal, because GMO's are not allowed in our country (for human/animal nourishment, only for ethanol) at least not yet. But even if it were the European Union forces, by law, everybody to label the exact ingredients of all products - so, we would have a choice.

    Have you ever addressed Trans Fat? That stuff is poison! I cannot eat it.

    Oh my God, they modify cells to produce its own pesticide? I didn't know this...

    I don't know if I have said this or not; but if I have, please allow me to reiterate: what you do here is very important! So, I thank you for informing us (which is a way of protecting us all)!

    Cheers darling

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  9. I think we should fight for legislation of full disclosure of our food.

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  10. Great article and I am off to read the rest! Thanks for the heads up!

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  11. While it is not realistic to think that we can avoid all GMOs in our food sources, it is realistic to expect a questionable food production method/source to be fully disclosed to the public. I grow as much of my own food as possible. What I don't grow, I try to buy locally. I also prefer to garden and eat organic foods. Our next step is to join a co-op to obtain our meat from a known local source. We already have chickens. We feed them mainly from our own crops. The provide us eggs and the occasional chicken stew.

    Everyone is entitled to their own opinion whether or not GMOs are harmful or not. IMHO, environment pollution is responsible for multitudes of physical and emotional disabilities and diseases today.

    So I choose not to allow foods altered by scientists on my table, in as much as I am able to determine the source. This is why these foods MUST be labeled. It STILL my Choice.

    Remember red dye #3 used to be thought safe too....

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  12. I need to read more on this to have a real opinion either way. I do know that the food labeled organic is three times higher than food that is not. So while it would be nice to go organic, it is very expensive.

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  13. Ok I just had to read and re read what GMO stood for, I just kept seeing Genetically Modified Orgasim.... Then while reading Im thinking "Ok... That doesnt sound like a BAD thing.." haha
    After reading it properlly though, its sad that the gov doesnt have to lable it however I dont see the huge problem in it. Glad to see your standing up for what you beilieve for though.

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  14. I try and be careful of what I eat - trans fats, HFCS, etc - but it's impossible to watch everything completely. This is great information, though. Thanks!

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  15. With all of the health issues that I have and that are in my family, I try to watch what I eat. GMO's are not meant to be in my opinion. There's no reason for them and I don't want them in my body. But how to avoid them?

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  16. I'm with Linda on this one. I think people just sit around thinking ways up to mess with others. It's like the people who want to create a "control blackhole" (honest to god). You know nature takes care of itself, it's when we start interfering that things go horribly wrong :(

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  17. i am very concious about my health i always try to use the hygenic food but thanks for aware about it now i will be alert abotu this kind of food.

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  18. i watch what i eat and read labels but, as others have said, it's hard to catch everything. i wish i had more time to cook with more fresh ingredients, but my schedule makes that difficult.

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  19. Because labeling laws are not that strict, people don't truly know what they are eating. GMO's are in most corn and soy products unless stated otherwise. Anything that helps something grow faster, be cheaper or last longer....will be used. It's unfortunate, but reality. Health is not the concern, the bottom line is. All you can do is research a bit and do your best to eat whole foods-organic when possible and meats without antibiotics, hormones etc..

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  20. I agree with Linda, Diane and Maureen here. It is hard to watch everything. However, as Maureen said, corn and soy are in most everything we eat. Better labeling is needed, so we have a better idea of what we are getting.

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Grab a cup of coffee and let me know your views, thoughts, or ideas.... Glad to see you here. Have a great day!