There is so much conflicting information today about food that have been genetically modified. Let's look at the some of the facts about these foods. The proponents of genetically modified foods say there is no harm to humans or animals who eat these foods. They maintain that there is no scientific proof showing problems. In fact, they maintain that GM foods are simply an extension of the food biotechnology that has improved our crops and animal products since Louis Pasteur discovered that heating milk would improve hygiene and thus health of the consumers. They maintain that we have already been eating genetically modified foods for decades with no visible health problems. The proponents of GMO crops are especially strong in the United States, the headquarters of Monsanto, the company that produces the majority of the herbicides and other poisonous sprays that kill insects and mold. They state that genetic engineering has greatly improved crops to resist disease, insects and other problems. Sounds great, doesn't it?
However, there is another side to this story that needs to be explained. One of the main issues is that the GMO products are made to be resistant to stronger chemicals such as the brand name, Roundup. There are residuals of these chemicals left on the plants. In fact, there have been tests developed to test for this and also the presence of modification in plants.
In a January 2010 paper,[103] the extraction and detection of DNA along a complete industrial soybean oil processing chain was described to monitor the presence of Roundup Ready (RR) soybean: "The amplification of soybean lectin gene by end-point polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was successfully achieved in all the steps of extraction and refining processes, until the fully refined soybean oil. The amplification of RR soybean by PCR assays using event-specific primers was also achieved for all the extraction and refining steps, except for the intermediate steps of refining (neutralisation, washing and bleaching) possibly due to sample instability. The real-time PCR assays using specific probes confirmed all the results and proved that it is possible to detect and quantify genetically modified organisms in the fully refined soybean oil. To our knowledge, this has never been reported before and represents an important accomplishment regarding the traceability of genetically modified organisms in refined oils." Original quote here.
The advocates of GMO crops also point out that many GMO crops have been modified to be sterile meaning the seeds will not produce a new crop, forcing farmers and gardeners to buy more seed. In addition, the pollen from GMO crops spread with the wind to organic fields and contaminate the neighboring fields. Organic farmers fear they will lose their organic certification. Also the chemicals have a tendency to seep into the water table. More importantly, the genetically modified products have had the DNA of the cells modified. This is a major change at a cell structure, and groups like the Organic Consumers Association maintain that there hasn't been adequate testing of these products to determine their safety.
Other groups such as the Natural News that has its own laboratory testing has stated that test animals fed GMO crops all developed problems.
Mice fed with GM corn were discovered to have smaller offspring and fertility problems. Hamsters fed with GM soy were unable to have offspring and suffered a high mortality rate. China Daily, an online journal, reported potential serious public health and environment problems with genetically modified rice considering its tendency to cause allergic reactions with the concurrent possibility of gene transfers. Tomatoes have now been genetically engineered for longer shelf life, preventing them from easily rotting and degrading. In a test conducted to determine the safety of GM tomatoes, some animal subjects died within a few weeks after consuming GM tomatoes.It has been discovered that 22 percent of cows in the U.S. were injected with recombinant (genetically modified) bovine growth hormone (rbGH). This Monsanto created hormone artificially forces cows to increase their milk production by 15 percent. Milk from cows treated with this milk inducing hormone contains increased levels of IGF-1 (insulin growth factors-1). Humans also have IGF-1 in their system. Scientists have expressed concerns that increased levels of IGF-1 in humans have been associated with colon and breast cancer.Morgellon's disease is not the only condition associated with genetically modified foods. A growing body of evidence has shown that it may cause allergies, immune reactions, liver problems, sterility and even death. Moreover, based on the only human feeding experiment conducted on genetically modified food, it was established that genetic material in genetically modified food product can transfer into the DNA of intestinal bacteria and still continue to thrive. Time and again, the American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) has warned that GMOs pose a serious threat to health, and it is no accident that there can be a correlation between it and adverse health effects. In fact, the AAEM has advised doctors to tell their patients to avoid GMOs as the introduction of GMOs into the current food supply has correlated with an alarming rise in chronic diseases and food allergies.Learn more by clicking here.Lastly, I would like to point out that GMO products are now either banned or forced to be labeled in over 63 countries as of 2013. There are tests to detect GMO modifications and many countries use them. To end on a positive note, there are now voluntary labels for GMO free products, so look for them when you shop.
